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、行为性和非行为性脑损伤中的各种神经解剖结构。 动物实验。最先进的工具包括柔性表面阵列和刚性穿透阵列 具有众所周知的局限性，包括低信噪比和随时间不稳定的记录。这个目标 一个项目是开发和测试一种新的设备概念，结合可拉伸基板与高密度 针穿透神经节和周围神经的神经外膜。从没有任何一件事 尝试或尝试到目前为止。这种方法有可能减轻表面的保真度差 阵列和消除由较大穿透阵列引起的损害。对神经节和 神经接口将产生来自交感神经、副交感神经和躯体神经的各种控制信号 神经支配膀胱和下尿路的运动和感觉通路。虽然膀胱功能障碍是 这是一个重要的医疗保健问题，但其背后的神经控制还没有得到很好的理解。这种短缺 知识只能导致部分有效的治疗，包括药物和神经刺激器。在目标1中， 微针阵列设计和制造将产生几个装置迭代，将在实验台上进行评价 体模实验，以证明插入有效性和易用性。目标2：急性和短期 长期体内实验将允许我们进一步评估和改进可用性，证明信号保真度， 并进行组织学评价。我们预计，这项技术和随后的学习机会将 导致神经调节装置显著改进。

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.