Novel High Density Interconnects for Flexible Neural Prostheses

描述(由申请人提供)：该项目建议开发灵活的多接触神经袖带电极，该电极具有嵌入式集成电路(IC)，通过新型高密度互连和先进的生物兼容封装方案进行电连接。所提出的微细加工聚酰亚胺/有机硅杂化袖带电极阵列将提供选择性刺激和记录复合周围神经的能力。创新的制造工艺将目前的劳动密集型手工工艺推进到批量微细加工，从而提高了电极接触的密度和精度。创新的混合结构产生了高度灵活的电极，而新型的板载IC和互连减少了与故障和神经损伤相关的所需引线数量。我们将演示该设备用于膀胱功能的闭环控制--包括排尿和排空。除了对原型器件进行广泛的体外测试外，有源器件还将被植入动物模型(即猫)中，用于对封装方案的功能、生物兼容性和介电完整性进行急性和慢性体内测试。这项工作将与杜克大学的沃伦·格里尔教授合作完成。这项技术也适用于周围神经系统其他区域的神经假体，包括用于瘫痪肢体复活的周围运动神经刺激，用于治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的舌下神经刺激，以及用于治疗癫痫、抑郁症和心力衰竭的迷走神经刺激。 与公共健康相关：本项目中提出的集成神经接口系统将使紧密耦合的IC成为生物兼容、可植入的灵活设备的一部分，在神经接口和IC之间提供高带宽信息交换。这一能力是完全可植入的闭环式生物机器接口系统的关键要求，以恢复因损伤、中风或神经退行性疾病而遭受不可逆转神经损伤的患者的运动和感觉功能。正在开发的技术直接适用于广泛的神经接口设备，包括先进的假肢、视觉假体，以及治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停、癫痫、抑郁症和心力衰竭的系统。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project proposes the development of flexible multiple contact nerve cuff electrodes with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected via a novel high density interconnect and advanced biocompatible packaging scheme. The proposed microfabricated polyimide/silicone hybrid cuff electrode arrays will provide capabilities for both selective stimulation and recording from compound peripheral nerves. The innovative fabrication process advances what is currently a labor-intensive manual process to batch microfabrication, and thereby allows an increase in the density and precision of electrode contacts. The innovative hybrid structure results in a highly flexible electrode, and the novel on-board IC and interconnects reduce the required number of lead wires, which are associated with failure and neural injury. We will demonstrate the utility of the device for closed-loop control of bladder function - including continence and emptying. In addition to extensive in vitro testing of prototype devices, active devices will be implanted into an animal model (i.e. cat) for acute and chronic in vivo testing of functionality, biocompatibility, and dielectric integrity of the packaging scheme. This work will be completed in collaboration with Prof. Warren Grill of Duke University. This technology is also applicable to neural prostheses in other areas of the peripheral nervous system, including peripheral motor nerve stimulation for re-animation of paralyzed limbs, hypoglossal nerve stimulation to treat obstructive sleep apnea, and vagus nerve stimulation for treatment of epilepsy, depression, and heart failure. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The integrated neural interface system proposed in this project will enable inclusion of a tightly coupled IC as part of a biocompatible, implantable flexible device, providing high bandwidth information exchange between neural interfaces and the IC. This capability is a vital requirement for fully-implantable, closed-loop biological- machine interface systems to restore motor and sensory function to people afflicted with irreversible nerve damage from injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases. The technology being developed is directly applicable to a broad range of neural interface devices including advanced prosthetic limbs, visual prostheses, and systems for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, epilepsy, depression, and heart failure.