Neural Electrode with Porous Nanostructure and Iridium Oxide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neural electrodes face challenges in achieving high signal measurement sensitivity and charge injection capability, with materials like platinum and iridium oxide having limitations in charge injection limit values and biocompatibility, and gold requiring higher charge injection limits for smooth stimulation.
Innovation Solution
A neural electrode with a porous nanostructure and an iridium oxide layer, where the porous nanostructure is formed using a metal layer etched to create a wide surface area and the iridium oxide layer is electrodeposited using an electrochemical method, enhancing charge storage capacity and charge injection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the electrode size is reduced to neuron scale (about 10 μm) to accurately verify neural state, then the electrode can record neural signal based on neuron unit, but the signal measurement sensitivity decreases due to reduced surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous nanostructure materials to the electrode surface, creating a three-dimensional porous layer that dramatically increases the effective surface area. The porous structure provides numerous pores with sizes of 1 nm or more, allowing the electrode to maintain a small footprint while achieving large surface area for signal detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat electrode surface to a three-dimensional porous nanostructure. This dimensional change allows the electrode to pack more surface area into a smaller footprint by utilizing vertical space within the porous structure, thereby maintaining small electrode size while achieving large effective surface area for neural signal recording
2Reliability
If iridium oxide thin film is used to increase charge injection limit value, then the charge injection capability improves, but the film thickness becomes several micrometers which increases electrode size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses porous nanostructure as the base layer that provides large surface area, allowing a thin iridium oxide coating (1-50 nm) to achieve the same charge injection capability that would require a much thicker film on a flat surface. The porous structure amplifies the effective surface area, so the thin coated layer provides sufficient charge injection limit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining porous nanostructure material with a thin iridium oxide coating layer. This composite approach leverages the high surface area of the porous structure and the excellent charge injection properties of iridium oxide, achieving high charge injection capability with minimal film thickness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The neural electrode achieves improved signal sensitivity and charge injection efficiency with a wide surface area and low electrochemical impedance, suitable for smooth neuronal stimulation without damage, while maintaining biocompatibility and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a porous nanostructure... may have a porosity of 30% to 80%
Implementation Method 2
an iridium oxide layer... enhancing charge storage capacity and charge injection efficiency
Implementation Method 3
The forming of the iridium oxide layer on the porous nanostructure may include preparing an electrodeposition solution of iridium oxide and immersing the porous nanostructure in the electrodeposition solution and electrodepositing iridium oxide on the porous nanostructure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a neural electrode and a method of manufacturing the electrode, more particularly, a neural electrode includes a porous nanostructure; and an iridium oxide layer formed on the porous nanostructure and a method of manufacturing the neural electrode, improving an electrode efficiency by increasing a charge injection limit capacity and the like.