New electrode materials for arthroscopic probes

该联盟项目是Fabio Cicoira教授（蒙特利尔理工大学）和Biomomentum Inc.之间的合作，一家位于拉瓦尔（QC）的加拿大公司，生产和销售关节镜探针和机械测试仪。Biomomentum Inc.正在开发一种新的关节镜探针，用于关节软骨的精确和非破坏性评估。目前的设备使用一个球形压头上的37个Au电极阵列来评估膝关节软骨压缩过程中产生的电势。探针的球形形状和当前使用的制造技术的选择性的缺乏导致一些性能限制。为了确保每个微电极的电位的可靠测量，使用具有高输入阻抗的复杂电子电路。这种电路的电稳定性需要额外的电屏蔽和良好控制的微电极阻抗谱。降低微电极的界面阻抗有望提高电稳定性，提供更好的保护，免受环境干扰，在关节镜检查过程中看到的，并增加在定量评估软骨properties.In这个项目中，我们将探索一种创新的技术，基于电化学沉积的Au或导电聚合物，以提高关节镜探头的性能。施加到每个微电极的这种涂层预期会导致更低和更可再现的阻抗值。首先在生理溶液中评估电极的阻抗，然后在人工软骨中评估。预计该项目将对加拿大人非常有益。能够识别软骨早期变化的可靠工具将是评估骨关节炎疾病修饰剂有效性的宝贵工具，此外还可以指导早期干预以防止关节置换，从而显著降低加拿大医疗保健系统的成本。

This Alliance project is a collaboration between the group of Prof. Fabio Cicoira (Polytechnique Montréal) and Biomomentum Inc., a Canadian company based in Laval (QC), which produces and commercializes arthroscopic probes and mechanical testers. Biomomentum Inc. is developing a new arthroscopic probe, to be used for the precise and non-destructive assessment of articular cartilage. The current device uses an array of 37 Au electrodes on a spherical indenter to assess the electrical potentials generated during the compression of knee cartilage. The spherical shape of the probe and the lack of selectivity of the currently used fabrication technique leads to some performance limitations. To ensure reliable measurements of the electrical potential of each microelectrode, a complex electronic circuit with high input impedance is used. The electrical stability of such circuit requires additional electrical shielding and a well-controlled microelectrode impedance spectrum. Decreasing the interfacial impedance of microelectrodes is expected to improve electrical stability, provide better protection against environmental disturbances seen during arthroscopy and increase the signal-to-noise ratio in the quantitative assessment of cartilage properties.In this project, we will explore an innovative technology, based on electrochemical deposition of Au or a conductive polymer, to improve the performance of the arthroscopic probe. Such coatings, applied to each micro electrode, are expected to lead to lower and more reproducible impedance values. The impedance of the electrodes will be assessed first in physiological solution and successively in artificial cartilage. This project is expected to be very beneficial to Canadians. A reliable instrument capable of identifying early changes in cartilage will be a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of disease modifying agents for osteoarthritis, in addition to guiding early interventions to prevent joint replacement, leading to significant reduction in costs for the Canadian healthcare system.