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

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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.