Chip-Integrated Hard-Soft Microneedle for Stable Neural Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing invasive microneedle structures, whether hard or soft, suffer from issues such as tissue damage, deformation, complex implantation, low efficiency, and inadequate functionality for both signal recording and stimulation, with Electroencephalogram signals being of low amplitude and easily interfered by noise.
Innovation Solution
A composite microneedle structure integrating a hard needle with a soft needle, where the soft needle is fixed to the hard needle via a structural member, and both are connected to an integrated circuit chip, featuring hook and plug structures for stable implantation and decoupling mechanisms to ensure the soft needle remains in tissue while the hard needle is withdrawn, enabling real-time neural signal extraction and stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard needle structure is used, then the electrode provides stable structural support and reliable signal recording, but it cannot adaptively deform with blood vessel expansion and contraction causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite microneedle structure combining hard needle (for structural stability and signal recording) and soft needle (for adaptive deformation with blood vessels). This composite approach allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties while mitigating their individual disadvantages, resolving the contradiction between recording reliability and tissue compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle is divided into distinct hard needle and soft needle segments, each performing specific functions. The hard needle provides structural support and signal recording, while the soft needle adapts to tissue deformation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's properties to address the contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a soft needle structure is used, then the electrode can adapt to tissue deformation, but it is prone to deformation during implantation requiring external equipment assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is segmented into hard and soft components, where the hard needle provides structural rigidity for easy implantation without external equipment, while the soft needle component maintains adaptability to tissue deformation. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functional requirements to different segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines the implantation advantages of hard materials with the tissue adaptability of soft materials, allowing the microneedle to be easily implanted while maintaining adaptability to blood vessel expansion and contraction.
3Device complexity
If single-type electrodes are used, then the structure is simple, but the functions are limited to recording only without stimulation capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions (signal recording and stimulation) into the composite microneedle structure. The hard needle and soft needle both serve as electrodes capable of both recording and stimulation, making the device universal and eliminating the need for separate recording and stimulation electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite microneedle structure enables multi-functionality by combining materials that can both record and stimulate neural signals, achieving functional versatility while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure compared to separate electrode systems.
4Device complexity
If traditional electrode structures are used, then the design is simple, but the Electroencephalogram signal extraction is inaccurate due to small amplitude and noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is segmented into multiple electrodes (hard needle electrodes and soft needle electrodes) that can simultaneously record neural signals. This segmentation increases the signal collection capacity and allows for better noise filtering and signal extraction, improving measurement precision while maintaining design simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure provides multiple electrode contacts with different material properties that enhance signal extraction capability. The combination of hard and soft needle electrodes improves the ability to capture small-amplitude EEG signals while resisting noise interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite microneedle structure based on an integrated circuit chip includes a microstrip line, at least one microprobe and at least one integrated circuit chip. The microprobe includes a hard needle and a soft needle, the soft needle is fixed to an upper surface of the hard needle by a fixed structural member, and the integrated circuit chip is provided at a tail of the microprobe; the integrated circuit chip and the soft needle of the microprobe are fixed to form an electrical connection, and the microstrip line and one end of the integrated circuit chip are fixed to form the electrical connection.