Abstract
Objective. Non-invasive imaging techniques are undoubtedly the ideal methods for continuous monitoring of neural activity. One such method, fast neural electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been developed over the past decade in order to image neural action potentials with non-penetrating electrode arrays. Approach. The goal of this study is two-fold. First, we present a detailed fabrication method for silicone-based multiple electrode arrays which can be used for epicortical or neural cuff applications. Secondly, we optimize electrode material coatings in order to achieve the best accuracy in EIT reconstructions. Main results. The testing of nanostructured electrode interface materials consisting of platinum, iridium oxide, and PEDOT:pTS in saline tank experiments demonstrated that the PEDOT:pTS coating used in this study leads to more accurate reconstruction dimensions along with reduced phase separation between recording channels. The PEDOT:pTS electrodes were then used in vivo to successfully image and localize the evoked activity of the recurrent laryngeal fascicle from within the cervical vagus nerve. Significance. These results alongside the simple fabrication method presented here position EIT as an effective method to image neural activity.
Highlights
The testing of nanostructured electrode interface materials consisting of platinum, iridium oxide, and PEDOT:pTS in saline tank experiments demonstrated that the PEDOT:pTS coating used in this study leads to more accurate reconstruction dimensions along with reduced phase separation between recording channels
Each electrode in the array was electroplated with either platinum, iridium oxide, or PEDOT:pTS following the protocols outlined in the methods section
In this study we have demonstrated a simple technique for the fabrication of silicone embedded electrode arrays from stainless-steel foils, the subsequent application of multiple nanostructured materials, and the efficacy of these electrode arrays as neural cuffs for use in imaging compound activity via electrical impedance tomography (EIT)
Summary
Significantly improved performance for many implantable devices This has been predominantly attributed both to the low elastic modulus of the silicone elastomer that leads to less material mismatch between the tissue and implant [1]. Due to these beneficial properties, the field of neuroscience has recently seen an influx of implanted electrode arrays which take advantage of these material properties for improved recording fidelity [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Due to the ease of implantation and recent trend towards developing next-generation neural cuff electrodes the majority of the currently utilized implants in the peripheral nervous system are non-penetrating neural cuff arrays
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