Abstract
The ability to reliably and safely communicate chronically with small diameter (100–300 µm) autonomic nerves could have a significant impact in fundamental biomedical research and clinical applications. However, this ability has remained elusive with existing neural interface technologies. Here we show a new chronic nerve interface using highly flexible materials with axon-like dimensions. The interface was implemented with carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn electrodes to chronically record neural activity from two separate autonomic nerves: the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. The recorded neural signals maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio (>10 dB) in chronic implant models. We further demonstrate the ability to process the neural activity to detect hypoxic and gastric extension events from the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, respectively. These results establish a novel, chronic platform neural interfacing technique with the autonomic nervous system and demonstrate the possibility of regulating internal organ function, leading to new bioelectronic therapies and patient health monitoring.
Highlights
The autonomic nervous system provides non-directed, unconscious control over bodily functions, such as digestion, breathing and heartbeat
The three most prevalent designs are: (1) the longitudinal intrafascicular electrode (LIFE)[21], which is sewn into the nerve along its length; (2) the transverse intrafascicular multi-channel electrode (TIME)[22], which penetrates through the nerve’s cross-section; and (3) the Utah Slanted Electrode Array (USEA)[23], which is an array of multi-height, cone-shaped, needle structures that penetrate the nerve similar to the TIME
The availability of flexible, mechanically strong, and highly conducting carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns with micro-sized diameters has offered ideal alternatives to replace rigid and expensive noble metal wires
Summary
The autonomic nervous system provides non-directed, unconscious control over bodily functions, such as digestion, breathing and heartbeat. The three most prevalent designs are: (1) the longitudinal intrafascicular electrode (LIFE)[21], which is sewn into the nerve along its length; (2) the transverse intrafascicular multi-channel electrode (TIME)[22], which penetrates through the nerve’s cross-section; and (3) the Utah Slanted Electrode Array (USEA)[23], which is an array of multi-height, cone-shaped, needle structures that penetrate the nerve similar to the TIME These intrafascicular electrodes have been able to initially record high SNR neural signals[24,25], they have yet to demonstrate chronic implant reliability because, we hypothesize, the electrode flexural rigidity is at least five orders of magnitude greater than the surrounding neural tissue[14,26]. Preliminary chronic stimulation experiments were performed on the rat sciatic nerve and charge thresholds were recorded over a six week period
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