A flexible perforated microelectrode array probe for action potential recording in nerve and muscle tissues

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Recording electrophysiological activity is crucial for understanding neural and muscular function.
• Rigid microelectrodes can cause tissue damage and unstable recordings during movement.
• Existing flexible electrode technologies face challenges in stability and precise tissue positioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate flexible perforated microelectrode arrays for simultaneous extracellular recording.
• To improve the stability and reduce mechanical damage during in-tissue recordings.
• To enable reliable electrophysiological measurements in dynamic biological environments.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of flexible microelectrode arrays using photolithographic thin film techniques.
• Utilizing polyimide as a flexible substrate with gold electrodes and titanium adhesion.
• Incorporating silicon nitride for electrode isolation and perforations for tissue anchoring.
• Extracellular recording in nerve and muscle tissues.

Main Results:

• Successfully manufactured flexible perforated microelectrode arrays.
• Demonstrated stable extracellular recordings in nerve and muscle tissues.
• Perforations improved electrode positioning and recording stability during movement.
• Flexible substrate design reduced mechanical damage compared to rigid probes.

Conclusions:

• Flexible perforated microelectrode arrays offer a promising solution for stable, long-term electrophysiological recordings.
• The design effectively mitigates mechanical stress and tissue damage.
• These arrays are suitable for in-vivo applications requiring high-fidelity neural and muscular activity monitoring.