Ultra-flexible Carbon Nanotube Yarn Electrodes that Integrate with Brain

描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的30年里，人们对开发电子控制机器和中枢神经系统之间的通信链路产生了广泛的兴趣，用于脊髓损伤，失明，假肢控制和许多其他应用的神经修复术。然而，目前所有慢性神经接口技术的应用都受到神经接口缺乏功能稳定性的严重阻碍，这可能是由于相对于柔软和动态的大脑，僵硬和栓系的植入物的力学特性。机械失配的主要来源有三个：互连、互连电极上层结构和电极本身。机械失配是现有技术的一个普遍公认的缺点，该计划将通过创造一种可长期植入的、薄的、基于聚合物的弹性线状互连技术，在很大程度上克服这一缺点，这种技术将与大脑表面集成，并将通过具有小但低阻抗活性位点的柔性线状电极访问感兴趣的神经元。本研究的目的是开发一种新的皮层神经接口技术，该技术可以与丘脑和皮层进行物理和永久的整合，并且：1)与特定目标神经元保持长期的生理稳定性；2)坚固可靠，使用数十年；3)可以方便地无创性植入；3)采用先进、无污垢、低阻抗/高充电容量的电容电极材料；4)可以支持经济快速周转原型运行的研究者产生的设计。通过与Foster-Miller， Inc.和InnerSea Technology， Inc.的紧密合作，将在一年的时间里对实现这一目标的可行性进行定量评估。生理稳定性将直接使用皮质桶状受体（须）范式和自动动作电位分类软件进行测试。此外，世界上最有经验的定量组织学实验室之一，亨廷顿医学研究所，将对植入组织与他们开发的广泛研究的铱轴电极阵列提供独立、客观的比较组织学分析。在第一阶段工作完成后，将完成以下工作：1)候选组织集成电极设计将被确定并通过机械测试（台架）进行验证；2)已经开发和评估了这些植入技术（实验和动物）；3)最终电极触点的电化学和电气参数将被彻底记录（工作台和动物）；4)植入系统相对于目标神经元的生理稳定性的初步测试将完成，并与使用铱阵列在对侧皮层进行的类似测试进行比较；5)完成系统生物相容性的初步客观定量评价。第二阶段将开始神经义肢和其他研究的有限商业化，确认生物相容性和生物抗性，并测试脊髓损伤的临床应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): For the past 30 years, there has been extensive interest in developing a communication link between electronically controlled machines and the central nervous system for neuroprosthetics for spinal cord injury, blindness, prosthetic control and many other applications. However, all current applications of chronic neural interface technology are substantially hampered by lack of functional stability in the neural interface, possibly due to the mechanics of the stiff and tethered implants relative to the soft and dynamic brain. There are three dominant sources of mechanical mismatch the interconnects, the interconnect-electrode superstructure, and the electrodes themselves. Mechanical mismatch is a widely recognized shortcoming of the existing technology that this proposed program will largely overcome by creating a chronically implantable, thin, polymer based elastic thread-like interconnect technology that will integrate with the brain surface, and will access neurons of interest through flexible, threadlike electrodes with small but low impedance active sites. The objective of the proposed work is to develop a new cortical neural interface technology that physically and permanently integrates with the pia and cortex and that: 1) maintains long term physiological stability with specific target neurons; 2) are rugged and reliable for many decades; 3) can be readily atraumatically implanted; 3) utilizes advanced, non-fouling, low impedance/high charge capacity capacitive electrode material; and 4) could support economical rapid turn-around prototype runs of investigator generated designs. The feasibility of achieving this objective will be quantitatively assessed over the course of one year by an intense collaborative effort with Foster-Miller, Inc and InnerSea Technology, Inc. Physiological stability will be directly tested using a cortical barrel receptor (whisker) paradigm and automated action potential classification software. In addition, one of the most experienced quantitative histology laboratories in the world, Huntington Medical Research Institute, will provide independent, objective comparative histological analysis of the implanted tissues vs the extensively studied Iridium shaft electrode arrays that they have developed. Following the completion of this proposed Phase I work, the following will have been accomplished: 1) candidate tissue integrative electrode designs will have been identified and verified with mechanical testing (bench); 2) insertion techniques for these will have been developed and evaluated (bench and animals); 3) electrochemical and electrical parameters of the final electrode contacts will have been thoroughly documented (bench and animals); 4) preliminary testing of the physiological stability of the implant system relative to target neurons will have been completed and compared to similar testing in the contralateral cortex using Iridium arrays; and 5) initial objective quantitative assessment of the biocompatibility of the system will be complete. Phase II will begin limited commercialization for neuroprosthetics and other research, confirmation of biocompatibility and bioresistance, and testing of clinical applications in spinal cord injury.