Hybrid bioelectrical interface device

Abstract

A hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) device can be an implantable device comprising an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions; a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, the biological component being sourced from biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized material; and a conjugated polymer component that together provide a means to chronically interface living neural tissue with electronic devices for extended durations (e.g. greater than 10 years). In some embodiments, conjugated polymers provide a functional electrical interface for charge transfer and signal transduction between the nervous system and an electronic device (e.g. robotic prosthetic limb, retinal implant, microchip).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 049,988 filed on May 2, 2008. The disclosure of the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.GOVERNMENT INTEREST[0002]This invention was made with government support under Grant No. W911NF0610218 awarded by the Army Research Office. The government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD[0003]The present technology relates to implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface devices that interface living neural tissue with artificial electronic components, in particular, neural-robotic bioelectrical coupling.BACKGROUND SUMMARY[0004]The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.[0005]Engineered limb prosthetics hold great potential for millions of spinal cord injury, neuromuscular disease, and amputation victims. Although sophisticated microelectronics and rob...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In a further aspect, the hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) devices comprise a housing providing for coordinated and structural direction for nerves to be interfaced with synthetic neural devices and artificial prostheses. The hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) devices can include a housing made from a polymer material such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or a hydrogel material, for example, agarose. The housing can contain a structural framework to provide rigidity, support and improved handling characteristics for the housing and the components contained therein. The housing surrounds a biological component that is interfaced with conjugated polymer. The conjugated polymer in turn, interfaces with an abiotic component and a biological component. The conjugated polymer component and biological components can be covered or surrounded by the housing.

Problems solved by technology

Although sophisticated microelectronics and robotics facilitate ever closer approximations of human movement, interfacing the mechanical to the biological has proved challenging.

With these successful demonstrations, the practical aspects of using central neural electrodes for human deployment including their surgical invasiveness, biofouling, encapsulation, foreign body response, and reliance on capacitive and high impedance electronics—all which lead to time-related signal degradation—become foremost challenges.

These exciting clinical results are already being deployed in select patients, but donor muscle limitations and reliance on non-integrated surface EMG may preclude achieving individual axonal fidelity (i.e. proximal interphalangeal joint flexion of the index finger), and sensory feedback has only been partially addressed.

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