Authors:
Fábio Rodrigues
1
and
Paulo Mendes
2
Affiliations:
1
University of Minho and Delft University of Technology, Portugal
;
2
University of Minho, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Neural Stimulation, Cuff Electrode, Mounting, Polyimide, PDMS.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Equipment
;
Biomedical Instrumentation
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Hardware
;
MEMS
;
Sensor Networks
Abstract:
Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves is commonly used in both research and clinical fields. Cuff electrodes are one possible interface between nerves and the stimulation microsystem. Among cuff electrodes, flexible, polyimide-based devices have been demonstrating good and consistent results for the past 15 years. Regarding mounting and mechanical stability of flexible electrodes for in vivo trials, improvements are still due. A new concept aiming at the integration of polyimide-based devices in an elastic handling structure was developed. By taking advantage of PDMS elasticity and moulding, this new integration method provides surgeons with the ability to move and to rotate the cuff minimizing nerve-electrode contact and, consequently, nerve damages. A 9 parts stainless steel mould was designed and fabricated to allow integration of polyimide electrode arrays together with the PDMS mounting structure and a print circuit board. Furthermore, with the fabricated mould it is possi
ble to achieve a final cylindrical channel with diameter of 800 µm, as well as handling strips to open and close the cuff.
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