title: A PDMS-based integrated stretchable microelectrode array (isMEA) for neural and muscular surface interfacing.
abstract: Numerous applications in neuroscience research and neural prosthetics, such as electrocorticogram (ECoG) recording and retinal prosthesis, involve electrical interactions with soft excitable tissues using a surface recording and/or stimulation approach. These applications require an interface that is capable of setting up high-throughput communications between the electrical circuit and the excitable tissue and that can dynamically conform to the shape of the soft tissue. Being a compliant material with mechanical impedance close to that of soft tissues, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) offers excellent potential as a substrate material for such neural interfaces. This paper describes an integrated technology for fabrication of PDMS-based stretchable microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Specifically, as an integral part of the fabrication process, a stretchable MEA is directly fabricated with a rigid substrate, such as a thin printed circuit board (PCB), through an innovative bonding technology-via-bonding-for integrated packaging. This integrated strategy overcomes the conventional challenge of high-density packaging for this type of stretchable electronics. Combined with a high-density interconnect technology developed previously, this stretchable MEA technology facilitates a high-resolution, high-density integrated system solution for neural and muscular surface interfacing. In this paper, this PDMS-based integrated stretchable MEA (isMEA) technology is demonstrated by an example design that packages a stretchable MEA with a small PCB. The resulting isMEA is assessed for its biocompatibility, surface conformability, electrode impedance spectrum, and capability to record muscle fiber activity when applied epimysially.
authors.affiliation: Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA. liang.guo.ac@gmail.com
authors.lastname: Liang Guo
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Guvanasen
authors.lastname: Xi Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuthill
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: DeWeerth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008839:Microelectrodes; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058117:Neural Prostheses; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009757:Nylons; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D009757:Nylons; C085707:poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymer