Liquid Crystal Polymer Substrate IntraCochlear Electrode

描述（由申请人提供）：这是一项技术开发提案，将为耳蜗电极创造新的技术基础。我们的目标是利用一种生物相容、生物耐药、尺寸稳定的聚合物衬底生产一种微机械加工的多触点电极阵列。由于这种聚合物衬底尺寸稳定，薄金属迹线可以被微机械加工用于电极触点和互连。得到的电极阵列可以薄至25mm，宽度小于0.5 mm，并且非常灵活。以这个小而灵活的阵列为起点，沿着整个人工耳蜗长度的每个点的机械方面都可以被指定和优化。这些机械特性的形状，弹性和灵活性在两个平面决定了创伤的可能性在手术插入。因此，具有理想机械性能的电极将减少创伤，这项新技术的好处还包括改进电极定位，以更有效地耦合残余的神经元件，更多的电极接触，并可能更深入地插入耳蜗的低频部分。第一阶段的目标是设计和制造电极载体和电极阵列的几个迭代，阵列的机械结构，以及电性能的盐水浸泡测试。在第二阶段的准备工作中，将开发一种植入式集成电路诊断刺激器，用于在体外和体内实际慢性植入条件下详细研究组装稳定性。第二阶段的研究将包括进一步优化耳蜗内电极阵列，这是基于在加州大学旧金山分校使用中枢神经系统记录范式进行的大量体内性能测量的结果，以及对猫和人尸体材料插入创伤的分析。该技术的长期可靠性将在体外和体内使用植入式诊断刺激器进行评估。将基于诊断刺激器的结果开发集成电路刺激器并嵌入在所述聚合物基板的终端部分内。这种新的，坚固的，耳蜗内植入物将有助于高级慢性生理学研究和临床应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a technology development proposal that will create a new technology base for cochlear electrodes. The goal is to produce a micro-machined, multi-contact electrode array using a biocompatible, bioresistant, dimensionally stable, polymer substrate Because this polymer substrate is dimensionally stable, thin metal traces can be micro-machined for electrode contacts and interconnects The resulting electrode array can be as thin as 25mm, less than 0 5mm wide and very flexible. With this small, flexible array as a beginning point, the mechanical aspects at every point along the length of the complete intra-cochlear implant can be specified and optimized. These mechanical characteristics of shape, springiness, and flexibility in two planes determine the probability of trauma during surgical insertion. Thus, an electrode with idealized mechanical properties will result in less trauma Benefits of this new technology would also include improved electrode positioning necessary for more efficient coupling to the residual neural elements, a larger number of electrode contacts and possibly deeper insertion into the lower frequency portions of the cochlea. Goals of Phase I are design and fabrication of several iterations of electrode carriers and electrode arrays, mechanical structuring of the arrays, and saline soak testing for electrical properties. In preparation for Phase II, an implantable integrated circuit diagnostic stimulator for detailed study of the assembly stability under realistic chronic implant conditions in-vitro and in-vivo will be developed. Phase II research will involve further optimization of the intracochlear electrode arrays based on results of extensive in-vivo measurements of performance using CNS recording paradigms at UCSF and analysis of insertion trauma in cat and human cadaver material. Long-term reliability of the technology will be evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo using the implantable diagnostic stimulator. An integrated circuit stimulator will be developed based on results of the diagnostic stimulator and embedded within the terminal portion of the polymer substrate. This new, robust, intracochlear implant will be useful for advanced chronic physiology studies and clinical application.