Bio-ionic Neural Interfaces

描述(由申请人提供) 摘要：神经设备的电子接口从根本上与自然神经系统不相容。由于电流密度的巨大差异，电域非常适合从神经系统记录，但不适合刺激。没有任何刺激伪像的同时提供记录和刺激的神经接口将真正改变我们研究、操作和与神经系统互动的方式。基于神经传输器的神经接口是最自然的，但神经递质必须在原位存储或生成，增加了接口设计的风险和难度。这项建议概述了一种电化学界面，通过使用从细胞外液中隔离出来的钾离子来化学刺激神经系统，从而绕过了这些问题。化学刺激所需的离子浓度仅比本底浓度5 mM高2-3倍。这使得这种方法能够扩展到自然神经体系结构的范围，这是目前使用电神经接口所不可能的。此外，通过建立一个真正的生物兼容界面，可以解决种植体寿命的一些关键问题。这项建议通过整合电气工程、材料、化学和神经科学领域的进展，解决了建立这种独特的电化学接口的挑战。潜在影响：这项工作的主要社会影响是在神经假体设备领域。更有效的神经接口的设计将使先进设备的建立成为可能，这些设备可以缓解那些患有神经疾病的人所面临的一些致残条件。除了医学领域，这一提议提出的概念还可以应用于加深我们对神经科学、有机电子学、膜分离、自组装和聚合物合成的物理学的理解。 公共卫生相关性：该项目的主要目标是为神经假体设备开发一种生物兼容的、高密度的神经接口。更高效的神经接口的设计将使先进设备的构建成为可能。这些设备可能会减轻患有视网膜变性、脊髓损伤和瘫痪等衰弱神经疾病的患者所面临的痛苦。这样的设备还可以通过允许同时刺激和记录大量神经元来帮助我们进一步了解神经科学。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by the applicant) Abstract: Electronic interfaces to neural devices are fundamentally incompatible with the natural neural system. Due to the vast difference in current densities involved the electrical domain is well suited to record from neural systems but not suited for stimulation. A neural interface that provides simultaneous recording and stimulation without any stimulus artifact would truly transform the way we study, manipulate and interact with neural systems. Neurotrnsmitter based neural interfaces, are most natural but the neurotransmitter must be stored or gener- ated in-situ increasing the risk and difficulty of the interface design. This proposal outlines an electrochemical interface that circumvents these issues by using potassium ions that are sequestered from the extracellular fluid to chemically stimulate neural systems. The required concentration of ions for chemical stimulation is only 2-3X over the background concentration of 5mM. This enables the scaling of this method to the scope of the natural neural architecture which is not currently possible with electrical neural interfaces. Additionally, by building a truly biocompatible interface, some of the key issues of implant longevity can be addressed. This proposal address the challenges of building this unique electrochemical interface by integrating advances in the fields of electrical engineering, materials, chemistry and neuroscience. Potential Impact: The prime societal impact of this work is in the area of neural prosthetic devices. The design of a more efficient neural interface will enable the building of advanced devices that can alleviate some of the de- bilitating conditions that are faced by those suffering from neurological diseases. Apart from the field of medicine the concepts that are advanced by this proposal can be applied to furthering our understanding of neuroscience, organic electronics, membrane separation, understanding the physics of self-assembly and polymer synthesis. Public Health Relevance: The major goal of this project is to develop a biocompatible, high-density neural interface for neural prosthetic devices. The design of a more efficient neural interface will enable the building of advanced devices. These devices can potentially alleviate the suffering faced by patients with debilitating neurological conditions such as retinal degeneration, spinal cord injury and paralysis. Such a device can also help in further our understanding of neuroscience by allowing for simultaneous stimulation and recording from a large population of neurons.