Optimization of two Surface Treaments (Plasma and Pluronic) for an Array of Gold Microelectrodes for Measuring Streaming Potentials on Articular Cartilage

用于测量关节软骨流动电位的金微电极阵列的两种表面处理（等离子体和 Pluronic）的优化

• 批准号: 514084-2017
• 负责人: Wertheimer, Michael
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=639462
• 关键词: Optimization; two; Surface; Treaments; Plasma

Biomomentum Inc. specializes in providing solutions for the biomechanical evaluation of tissues, biomaterialsand cartilage. The company develops and commercializes the Arthro-BSTTM, an arthroscopic probe used forprecise, non-destructive assessment of articular cartilage. Arthro-BSTTM measures streaming potentialsgenerated during compression of articular cartilage during an arthroscopic procedure and assesses itselectro-mechanical properties. To ensure reliable local streaming potential measurement by an individualmicroelectrode (37 microelectrodes, each with a geometric surface: 20µm x 80µm), a sophisticatedcurrent-voltage transducer is used. When the device is surgically introduced into the knee, small air bubblestend to form on the microelectrodes' surfaces, which create electrical fluctuations that cause a significant delaybefore the probe can perform useful measurements. Improving hydrophilicity (wettability) of themicroelectrode array should greatly reduce air bubble formation, which in turn should significantly reduceelectrical equilibration time during arthroscopy. In this project, two separate surface treatment methods will betested on the microelectrode array, both designed to increase wettablity: (i) Pluronic® brush-coating; (ii)Atmospheric pressure plasma-polymerization of organic films, known as plasma polymers.

Biomomentum Inc.专门为组织、生物材料和软骨的生物力学评估提供解决方案。该公司开发并商业化了Arthro-BSTTM，这是一种关节镜探针，用于精确、非破坏性地评估关节软骨。Arthro-BSTTM测量关节镜手术中关节软骨压缩过程中产生的流动电位，并评估其电机械特性。为了确保通过单个微电极（37个微电极，每个微电极的几何表面：20µm x 80µm）进行可靠的局部流动电位测量，使用了一个放大的电流-电压传感器。当该设备通过手术引入膝盖时，微电极表面往往会形成小气泡，这会产生电气波动，导致探针进行有用测量之前出现明显延迟。改善微电极阵列的亲水性（润湿性）应大大减少气泡的形成，这反过来又应显著减少关节镜检查过程中的电平衡时间。在该项目中，将在微电极阵列上测试两种单独的表面处理方法，这两种方法都旨在提高润湿性：（i）Pluronic®刷涂;（ii）有机膜的大气压等离子体聚合，称为等离子体聚合物。