IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL CABLING AND INTERCONNECTS

用于生物监测和神经刺激的植入物可能会使许多患有各种生理疾病的人受益，包括听力和视力受损。MicroSound Systems(MSS)制造了柔性印制布线(FPW)产品，其精细特性接近超小型植入式布线和互连所需的性能。在这份第一阶段SBIR资金申请中，MSS建议开发一种技术，用于实现基于新型液晶聚合物衬底的FPW结构，用于生物监测、神经刺激和其他应用。这项新技术的开发基于前沿的FPW多层制造技术，该技术结合了薄膜基板和UV激光打孔微孔。新的层压和LCP材料技术可能实现支持一系列诊断和治疗植入性设备的超微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以直接用于人工耳蜗等特定产品，这些产品需要数十微米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，较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在未来十年预计将是非常大的市场，最终将增长到数十亿美元。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.