Brain Machine Interface Sample Projects

To improve the current time-consuming manual implantation procedure, we have developed and published a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap system for the pre-digitally-determined implantation locations for each MEA, tailored to custom neuroscience experiment needs. A prototyped 32-channel microwire MEA system was able to record spiking activities over five months through a skull cap. Furthermore, for MEMS-based neural probes, we developed an innovative, cost-efficient, 3D-printed headcap with an embedded microdrive (THEM) system to streamline the manual implantation process for efficient and precise multi-region brain neural-probe implantations. By shifting manual stereotaxic alignment work to pre-surgical preparation of a fully assembled headcap system, incorporating fully preassembled upper support framework for packaging management, and easy customization for specific experiments, our system significantly reduces the surgical time, simplifies multi-implant procedures, and enhances procedural accuracy and repeatability. 

To address the labor-intensive assembly challenges of microwire-based microelectrode arrays, especially the state-of-art ultraminiaturized single carbon fiber ones, we have developed an automatic assembly machine guided by computer vision to conduct computer-controlled precise feeding, alignment, and laser cut-off of carbon fiber electrodes.

Chronically implanting microelectrodes for high-resolution action potential recording is critical for understanding the brain. The smallest and most flexible electrodes, most suitable for chronic recordings, are also the most difficult to insert due to buckling against the thin but hard-to-penetrate brain meninges. To address such implantation challenges without introducing further damage to the brain, this project presents our design and prototype of an inchworm-type insertion device that conducts a grip-feed-release incremental motion for planar microelectrode insertion, enabling minimized unsupported length and thus maximized critical buckling load and buckling resistance.

A cantilever beam-based flexible high-resolution system for evaluation of microelectrode force and membrane dimpling depth was developed. The easily duplicable and reconfigurable system was shown feasible for in vivo evaluation of both the pia-only and dura-pia penetration process with either microwires or silicon-based probe shanks. For the first time, we revealed the linear relationship between microwire diameter and membrane rupture force/dimpling depth for in vivo rat brain insertion and for dura penetration.

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