Neural Microarray With Modular Filaments For Flexible Site Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current micro neural implants are poorly constructed for high-density recording, stimulating, or treating of neural tissue volumes due to limitations in their linear-based construction, site positioning, and cross-sectional shape, which restricts data acquisition and therapeutic capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A neural microarray with flexible or rigid base members and elongate shafts, featuring microfilaments that provide six degrees of freedom for placement and can be configured to stimulate or record neural tissue, including helical shapes and wireless power connectivity, to optimize implantation and reduce tissue response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If linear-based construction is used for neural implants, then device simplicity is maintained, but site positioning flexibility and tissue conformability are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesite positioning flexibilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The neural implant is divided into multiple modular components including a base member with multiple shafts, each shaft containing multiple microfilaments. This segmentation allows independent positioning and configuration of each microfilament site while maintaining overall device coherence, thereby achieving flexible site positioning without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from linear-based construction to a three-dimensional microarray architecture with microfilaments extending in multiple directions from the base member. This dimensional expansion enables sites to be positioned at various depths and orientations within neural tissue, significantly improving adaptability and versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If high-density site configuration is implemented, then data acquisition capability is improved, but tissue response and adverse reactions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata acquisition capabilityVSAvoidtissue response

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Each microfilament site is designed with localized functional characteristics, allowing different regions of the device to interact with neural tissue in optimized ways. The microfilaments can be independently configured with varying densities and orientations, enabling high data acquisition in target regions while minimizing overall tissue disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The use of thin microfilament structures and flexible shafts allows the device to conform to tissue architecture rather than forcing tissue adaptation to the device. This reduces mechanical stress and adverse tissue responses while maintaining high site density for data acquisition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If microfilaments are positioned to maximize neural tissue interaction, then recording and stimulation effectiveness is improved, but insertion difficulty and tissue damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording and stimulation effectivenessVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The microfilaments are pre-positioned within protective shafts during manufacturing, with their final configurations predetermined to optimize neural tissue interaction. This preliminary arrangement allows for precise positioning upon insertion while simplifying the surgical procedure, as the complex microfilament architecture is already established before implantation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Microfilaments are nested within protective shafts, with multiple microfilaments contained within each shaft. This nested structure protects the delicate microfilaments during insertion while enabling their distal ends to be positioned at optimal depths for neural tissue interaction, thereby improving reliability without increasing insertion difficulty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 microarray enables more conformable and effective neural interface devices with increased site density and flexibility, allowing for improved data acquisition and therapeutic modalities, such as magnetic stimulation and fluid delivery, while minimizing adverse tissue responses.

Implementation Method 1

activating the magnetic coils sufficiently to modulate neural activity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic stimulation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11793437B2Neural interface device and insertion tools

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 MODULAR BIONICS

AI summary

An implanted neural micro interface device comprises microfilaments of various materials and forms embedded within a body. The microfilaments form interaction sites with surrounding neural tissue at their exit points from the implantable body. The body and filaments are configurable in a multitude of positions to provide increased engagement of a given neural tissue section as well as interaction and closed loop feedback between the microfilament sites. Such configurations allow for a range of recording, stimulating, and treatment modalities for the device within research and clinical settings.