Date/Time
Date(s) - 12/05/2016
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location
NanoscaleResearch Facility 115

Categories No Categories

Paul Cvancara, Ph.D.

Department of Microsystems Engineering-IMTEK

Albert-Ludwig University

Freiburg, Germany

Translating microfabrication neural interfaces for use in human patients.

Abstract:

Micromachined  neural  probes  based  on  flexible  polymer  materials  can  become  an  alternative  to   commercially  available  silicon  based  microsystems  for  fundamental  research  or  precision  mechanics   based  probes  in  clinical  applications.  However,  many  technological  and  regulatory  challenges  have  to   be  faced  from  basic  research  towards  reliable  devices.  Neural  interfaces  to  the  central  and  peripheral   nervous  system  share  some  essential  requirements  but  have  to  be  tailored  for  their  specific   implantation  site  and  application.  The  use  of  clinically  established  materials  and  laser-­‐structuring  as   relatively  new  technology  in  the  context  of  neural  interfaces  will  be  introduced  on  the  example  of   epicorticalelectrode  arrays  for  epilepsy  diagnosis  and  brain  machine  interfaces.  Micromachined   polyimide-­‐based  electrode  arrays  for  peripheral  nerve  interfaces  to  treat  phantom  limb  pain  and  to   provide  sensory  feedback  in  hand  prosthesis  control  are  presented  as  an  example  of  translational   research  at  an  early  phase  in  the  development  chain  to  an  approved  product.