New electrode materials for arthroscopic probes

用于关节镜探头的新型电极材料

• 批准号: 568608-2021
• 负责人: Cicoira, Fabio
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: École Polytechnique de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=722509
• 关键词: New; electrode; materials; arthroscopic; probes

This Alliance project is a collaboration between the group of Prof. Fabio Cicoira (Polytechnique Montréal) and Biomomentum Inc., a Canadian company based in Laval (QC), which produces and commercializes arthroscopic probes and mechanical testers. Biomomentum Inc. is developing a new arthroscopic probe, to be used for the precise and non-destructive assessment of articular cartilage. The current device uses an array of 37 Au electrodes on a spherical indenter to assess the electrical potentials generated during the compression of knee cartilage. The spherical shape of the probe and the lack of selectivity of the currently used fabrication technique leads to some performance limitations. To ensure reliable measurements of the electrical potential of each microelectrode, a complex electronic circuit with high input impedance is used. The electrical stability of such circuit requires additional electrical shielding and a well-controlled microelectrode impedance spectrum. Decreasing the interfacial impedance of microelectrodes is expected to improve electrical stability, provide better protection against environmental disturbances seen during arthroscopy and increase the signal-to-noise ratio in the quantitative assessment of cartilage properties.In this project, we will explore an innovative technology, based on electrochemical deposition of Au or a conductive polymer, to improve the performance of the arthroscopic probe. Such coatings, applied to each micro electrode, are expected to lead to lower and more reproducible impedance values. The impedance of the electrodes will be assessed first in physiological solution and successively in artificial cartilage. This project is expected to be very beneficial to Canadians. A reliable instrument capable of identifying early changes in cartilage will be a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of disease modifying agents for osteoarthritis, in addition to guiding early interventions to prevent joint replacement, leading to significant reduction in costs for the Canadian healthcare system.

该联盟项目是 Fabio Cicoira 教授团队（蒙特利尔理工学院）和 Biomomentum Inc. 之间的合作，Biomomentum Inc. 是一家位于拉瓦尔 (QC) 的加拿大公司，生产和商业化关节镜探针和机械测试仪。 Biomomentum Inc. 正在开发一种新型关节镜探头，用于对关节软骨进行精确且无损的评估。当前的设备使用球形压头上的 37 Au 电极阵列来评估膝盖软骨压缩过程中产生的电位。探针的球形形状和当前使用的制造技术缺乏选择性导致了一些性能限制。为了确保每个微电极电势的可靠测量，使用了具有高输入阻抗的复杂电子电路。这种电路的电气稳定性需要额外的电屏蔽和良好控制的微电极阻抗谱。降低微电极的界面阻抗有望提高电稳定性，更好地防止关节镜检查过程中出现的环境干扰，并提高软骨特性定量评估的信噪比。在这个项目中，我们将探索一种基于金或导电聚合物电化学沉积的创新技术，以提高关节镜探针的性能。这种应用于每个微电极的涂层预计将导致更低且更可再现的阻抗值。首先在生理溶液中评估电极的阻抗，然后在人造软骨中评估电极的阻抗。该项目预计将对加拿大人非常有利。能够识别软骨早期变化的可靠仪器将成为评估骨关节炎疾病调节剂有效性的宝贵工具，此外还能指导早期干预措施以防止关节置换，从而显着降低加拿大医疗保健系统的成本。