Microneedle Array Electrodes Fabricated With 3D Printing Technology for High-Quality Electrophysiological Acquisition

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Conventional wet electrodes have limitations for electrophysiological recordings.
• Existing microneedle array electrode (MAE) fabrication methods are often complex, costly, or lack precision.
• High-quality electrophysiological data is crucial for diagnostics and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a precise, cost-effective method for fabricating microneedle array electrodes (MAEs).
• To evaluate the performance of MAEs compared to conventional electrodes for electrophysiological signal acquisition.
• To explore the potential of customizable MAEs for minimally invasive or non-invasive applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized projection stereolithography (PμSL) 3D printing for MAE fabrication with micrometer precision.
• Compared the electrode-skin interface impedance (EII) of MAEs with gel and flat electrodes.
• Assessed the performance of MAEs for electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiography (ECG) acquisition.

Main Results:

• PμSL 3D printing provides an accessible and economical approach for MAE production.
• Developed MAEs demonstrated favorable electrode-skin interface impedance.
• Achieved stable EMG and ECG recordings with MAEs across various conditions without adverse skin reactions.

Conclusions:

• The PμSL 3D printing technology enables efficient and precise fabrication of customizable MAEs.
• The developed MAEs show significant potential for advanced electrophysiological monitoring.
• This technology offers a promising solution for ultra-minimally invasive or non-invasive bio-potential acquisition.