IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL CABLING AND INTERCONNECTS

用于生物监测和神经刺激的植入物可能使许多患有各种生理状况的人受益，包括听力和视力受损。MicroSound Systems（MSS）制造的柔性印刷布线（FPW）产品具有接近超小型、可植入电缆和互连所需的精细尺寸特征。 在第一阶段SBIR资金的申请中，MSS提出开发一种基于新型液晶聚合物基板的FPW结构技术，用于生物监测，神经刺激和其他应用。 这项新技术的发展是基于先进的FPW多层制造技术，结合薄膜基板和紫外激光钻微孔。 新的层压和LCP材料技术可以潜在地实现支持一系列诊断和治疗植入式设备的超小型布线和互连系统的最终目标。 MSS提出的超细线电路制造技术也可直接用于特定产品，如人工耳蜗，这些产品需要数十至数百微米规模的密集电极阵列和电路特征。拟议的商业应用：最终，更大的潜在市场之一是神经监测和刺激，包括植入物。 生物监测和神经刺激预计将在未来十年内成为非常大的市场，最终将上升到数十亿美元。其他市场包括设备和环境监测以及微型仪器。

Implants for biological monitoring and neurological stimulation could potentially benefit many people suffering from wide range of physiological conditions, including impaired hearing and vision. MicroSound Systems (MSS) has fabricated flexible printed wiring (FPW) products with fine-scale features approaching what is required for ultra- miniature, implantable cabling and interconnects. In this application for Phase I SBIR funding, MSS proposes to develop a technology for implementing FPW structures based on new liquid crystal polymer substrates to be used for biological monitoring, neurological stimulation, and other applications. Development of this new technology is based upon leading-edge FPW multi-layer fabrication techniques incorporating thin-film substrates and UV laser drilled microvias. The new lamination and LCP material technology can potentially achieve the ultimate goal of an ultraminiature cabling and interconnect system supporting an array of diagnostic and therapeutic implantable devices. The ultra-fine-line circuit fabrication technology proposed by MSS can also be used directly for specific products such as cochlear implants, which require dense arrays of electrodes and circuit features on the scale of tens to hundreds of microns. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Ultimately, one of the larger potential markets is in neurological monitoring and stimulation, including implants. Biological monitoring and neurological stimulation are expected to be very large markets over the next decade, eventually rising to several billions of dollars. Additional markets include equipment and environment monitoring, and miniature instrumentation.