A Microneedle Array System for Transcutaneous Nerve Mapping

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究利用新颖的电子和微加工技术来创建一个非侵入性的自动化平台，用于有针对性地监测和操纵人类神经组织。这项研究将使基础研究和临床医疗设备的快速发展，应用于神经病理诊断、高级治疗和神经修复。第一阶段涉及非侵入性神经技术的三个重要发展。目标1将开发高分辨率和低噪声的皮肤表面电极阵列。阵列中的每个电极都将包含低成本的微纹针，通过无痛地刺穿皮肤的最顶层，从而显著降低电极阻抗，从而在不牺牲信噪比的情况下实现高空间分辨率。目标2将开发可扩展的同步刺激和重记录电子设备，以恢复传统上被刺激伪影遮蔽的信号。恢复的数据，结合同时与几十个皮肤表面电极相互作用的能力，将提供经皮神经和肌肉活动的新测量方法。最后，Aim 3将结合Aims 1和Aims 2的技术发展来演示通过皮肤对神经的分割和表征。除了减少进行传统神经传导研究（NCS）所需的复杂性、疼痛和操作人员培训外，该平台还将实现广泛的基础研究以及新型神经调节装置的创建。第二阶段将侧重于增加阵列和电子设备服务的通道数量，减少电子设备的外形尺寸和处理要求，并为实时信息提取和神经控制提供信号处理硬件和算法。公共卫生相关性：本研究项目利用新颖的电子和制造技术，生产一套用于神经、肌肉和脑组织研究的非侵入性自动化工具集。最终，这一发展将促进医学和科学发现，使神经肌肉疾病的诊断和治疗成为可能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed study utilizes novel electronics and microfabrication techniques to create a non-invasive, automated platform for targeted monitoring and manipulation of human neural tissue. This research will enable rapid advancements in both basic research and clinical medical devices, with applications to neuropathological diagnostics, advanced therapeutics, and neural prosthetics. Phase I involves three significant developments for non-invasive neurotechnology. Aim 1 will develop high-resolution and low-noise skin surface electrode arrays. Each electrode within the array will contain low-cost micropat- terned needles, which dramatically decrease electrode impedance by painlessly piercing the topmost layer of skin, allowing for high spatial resolution without any sacrifice in signal-to-noise ratios. Aim 2 will develop scalable simultaneous stimulation and re- cording electronics to recover signals traditionally obscured by stimulation artifacts. The recovered data, combined with the ability to simultaneously interact with dozens of skin- surface electrodes, will provide new measures of transcutaneous nerve and muscle activ- ity. Finally, Aim 3 will combine the technological developments of Aims 1 and 2 to dem- onstrate the segmentation and characterization of nerves through the skin. In addition to reducing the complexity, pain, and operator training required to perform traditional nerve conduction studies (NCS), this platform will enable a wide range of basic research studies as well as the creation of novel neuromodulation devices. Phase 2 will focus on increasing the number of channels serviced by the array and electronics, reducing the form factor and processing requirements for the electronics, and providing signal- processing hardware and algorithms for real-time information extraction and neural control. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research project leverages novel electronic and fabrication technologies to produce a non-invasive automated toolset for the study of nerve, muscle, and brain tissue. Ulti- mately, this development will facilitate medical and scientific discoveries that will enable the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of neuromuscular diseases.