Long term chronic recordings from peripheral sensory fibers using a sieve electrode array

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Chronic nerve recordings are crucial for understanding neural function and developing therapeutic interventions.
• Existing methods for long-term nerve recording often face challenges with electrode stability and signal integrity.
• The glossopharyngeal nerve plays a vital role in sensory functions of the tongue and pharynx.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and application of a novel micromachined silicon sieve electrode array for chronic glossopharyngeal nerve recordings.
• To evaluate the long-term stability and performance of the implanted electrode array.
• To demonstrate the capability of the device in recording evoked sensory responses.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a micromachined silicon sieve electrode array with integrated ribbon cable.
• Surgical implantation of the electrode array onto the glossopharyngeal nerve in a chronic model.
• Monitoring of electrode integrity throughout the recording period.
• Recording of evoked sensory responses from tongue mechanoreceptors using the implanted array.

Main Results:

• The silicon sieve electrode array allowed for stable, long-term chronic recordings from the glossopharyngeal nerve.
• Electrode integrity was successfully monitored from the time of implantation.
• Evoked sensory responses from tongue mechanoreceptors were reliably recorded, demonstrating functional neural activity.

Conclusions:

• The micromachined silicon sieve electrode array is a viable tool for chronic glossopharyngeal nerve recordings.
• This technology offers a promising approach for long-term neural monitoring and research.
• The device facilitates the study of sensory pathways and the development of neural prosthetics.