A mosquito mouthpart-like bionic neural probe

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomimetics
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Flexible neural probes offer improved stability and longevity over rigid devices for brain recordings.
• Current implantation methods using shuttle devices face challenges with brain membranes and risk hidden damage to blood vessels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biomimetic neural probe system inspired by mosquito mouthparts for minimally invasive brain implantation.
• To integrate high-sensitivity sensors for real-time monitoring and early warning of intracranial structures, particularly blood vessels.

Main Methods:

• Designed a neuroprobe system mimicking mosquito mouthpart anatomy, incorporating a tactile sensor module and a multichannel flexible electrode array.
• Enabled distributed and minimally invasive implantation across brain regions without additional dural removal.
• Utilized a tactile sensor array for nonvisual monitoring during implantation to detect soft tissues like vessels.

Main Results:

• The system allows for distributed implantation across multiple brain regions, minimizing invasiveness.
• Real-time tactile sensing provided early warnings for intracranial soft tissues, significantly reducing the risk of vascular injury.
• Demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, adaptability, and outstanding performance in both short-term postoperative and long-term chronic neural recordings.

Conclusions:

• The biomimetic neural probe system offers a promising solution for safer and more effective neural recording and stimulation.
• This technology has significant potential for advancing neuroscience research and brain-machine interface applications.
• Minimally invasive implantation with integrated safety monitoring enhances the utility of flexible neural probes.