Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
09:35
Fabrication of High Contact-Density, Flat-Interface Nerve Electrodes for Recording and Stimulation Applications
Published on: October 4, 2016
9.9K
Ultraflexible and Stretchable Intrafascicular Peripheral Nerve Recording Device with Axon-Dimension, Cuff-Less
Dongxiao Yan1, Ahmad A Jiman2,3, Elizabeth C Bottorff3
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 2, 2022
Summary
A novel flexible microneedle nerve array (MINA) offers high-resolution peripheral nerve mapping. This technology minimizes chronic reactivity and enables cuff-free, suture-free implantation for advanced neuroscience research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Advancing systems neuroscience requires peripheral nerve mapping tools with higher spatial resolution.
- Microscale neural interfaces face challenges in application to small nerves and minimizing chronic reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a flexible microneedle nerve array (MINA) for high-density peripheral nerve recording.
- To assess the acute and chronic performance and tissue response of the MINA system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a flexible microneedle nerve array (MINA) with axon-sized silicon microneedles.
- Acute recording in the rat peroneal nerve and chronic implantation studies in the rat vagus nerve.
- Histomorphometry and micro-CT imaging to quantify tissue response and encapsulation.
Main Results:
- Distinctive neural units were identified in the rat peroneal nerve using MINA.
- A novel light-activated adhesive (rose bengal) enabled cuff-free and suture-free MINA fixation.
- MINA demonstrated reduced tissue encapsulation compared to interfascicular methods at 1 and 6 weeks.
Conclusions:
- The flexible microneedle nerve array (MINA) is a promising high-density neural interface for peripheral nerve applications.
- MINA shows reduced chronic reactivity and enables novel fixation techniques.
- Further development is needed for precise microneedle insertion and long-term recording demonstration.
