Bidirectional optical, electrical, and chemical neural probe

The POLI fiber probe integrates carbon nanotube electrodes and flexible waveguides to address the limitations of existing neural interfaces, offering simultaneous electrical and chemical sensing with MRI compatibility, enhancing long-term neural circuit studies.

WO2025250672A9 Publication Date: 2026-02-05MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH
0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/US2025/031241
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-05-28
Filing Date
2025-05-28
Publication Date
2026-02-05

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing neural interfacing devices face challenges in combining multiple functionalities such as electrophysiology, chemical sensing, and MRI compatibility while minimizing tissue damage and mechanical stiffness, leading to limitations in long-term biocompatibility and data quality during neural circuit studies.

Method used

A bidirectional multifunctional fiber probe, known as the Polymer-based Optical-electrical-chemical neuroLogical Interface (POLI) fiber, integrates carbon nanotube electrodes with a flexible PMMA/THVP waveguide, enabling simultaneous electrical recording, optical stimulation, and chemical sensing, while being MRI-compatible and having a reduced footprint.

Benefits of technology

The POLI fiber probe allows for long-term, minimally invasive neural circuit studies by providing high sensitivity and low artifact imaging, enabling simultaneous recording and modulation of neural activity, and is compatible with high-Tesla MRI scanners.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A multifunctional fiber probe capable of optical, electrical, and chemical interrogation of neuronal brain circuits in vivo is disclosed. The fiber probe may include an optical waveguide to enable optogenetic stimulation and / or fiber photometry, one or more electrodes for electrical recording and / or stimulation, and a microfluidic conduit to deliver at a drug, a gene, and / or a chemical to a mammalian subject. The fiber probe may be MRI compatible. The fiber probe may have a minimal footprint and enhanced bio-compatibility due to its flexible materials, resulting in reduced inflammation relative to conventional deep brain stimulation probes. The fiber probe may allow for multisite optical, electrical, and viral perturbations and electrophysiological and photometric recordings.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art