Highly-compliant Microneedle Arrays for Peripheral Nerve Mapping

项目摘要 需要一种神经接口，以允许监测慢性行为的不同神经解剖结构 动物实验。最先进的工具，包括柔性表面阵列和坚硬渗透阵列 具有众所周知的局限性，包括低信噪比和随着时间的推移录音不稳定。这样做的目的是 项目是开发和测试一种新的设备概念，将可伸缩基板与高密度相结合 针刺穿神经节和周围神经的神经外膜。这种规模的东西都不是 已经证明或试图约会的。这种方法有可能缓解表面保真度差的问题。 并消除较大穿透性阵列造成的损害。神经节和神经节的初步验证测试 神经接口将产生来自交感、副交感和躯体的各种控制信号 支配膀胱和下尿路的运动和感觉通路。尽管膀胱功能障碍 作为一个重大的医疗保健问题，潜在的神经控制还没有被很好地理解。这一缺口 知识只能产生部分有效的治疗方法，包括药物和神经刺激剂。在目标1中， 微针阵列的设计和制造将产生几次设备迭代，将在台式计算机上进行评估 幻影实验，以证明插入的有效性和易用性。在目标2，急性和短期 长期的活体实验将使我们能够进一步评估和改进可用性，展示信号保真度， 并进行组织学评估。我们预计这项技术和随后的学习机会将 导致神经调节设备的显著改进。

Project Summary A neural interface is needed that will allow for monitoring the diverse neural anatomy in chronic, behaving animal experiments. The state-of-the-art tools including both flexible surface arrays and stiff penetrating arrays have well-known limitations including low signal-to-noise and unstable recordings over time. The goal of this project is to develop and test a novel device concept that combines stretchable substrates with high-density needles to penetrate through the epineurium of ganglia and peripheral nerves. Nothing in this scale has been demonstrated or attempted to date. This approach has the potential to mitigate the poor fidelity of surface arrays and eliminate damage induced from larger penetrating arrays. Initial validation testing on ganglionic and nerve interfaces will yield a variety of control signals from the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and somatic motor and sensory pathways that innervate the bladder and lower urinary tract. Although bladder dysfunction is a significant healthcare problem, the underlying neural control is not well understood. This shortfall of knowledge results in only partially effective therapies, including drugs and neurostimulators. In Aim 1, microneedle array design and fabrication will yield several device iterations will be evaluated in benchtop phantom experiments to demonstrate insertion effectiveness and ease-of-use. In Aim 2, acute and short-term chronic in vivo experiments will allow us to further evaluate and improve usability, demonstrate signal fidelity, and perform histological evaluation. We expect that this technology and subsequent learning opportunities will lead to significant improvements in neuromodulation devices.