DEVELOPMENT OF A PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NANOCOMPOSITE-BASED NEURAL ELECTRODE ARRAY FABRICATED FROM A CHEMORESPONSIVE POLYMER SUBSTRATE

摘要

This paper reports the results of an effort to develop a packaging system designed specifically for chronic, in vivo testing of microfabricated neural electrode arrays made from a novel, biologically-inspired, variable-stiffness nano-composite material (PVAc-NC). The package was designed to function as a head cap for a probe-based neural interface for use in long-term, in vivo testing and consists of a connector assembly to enable direct electrical interfacing with standard measurement equipment. The neural probe electrodes are electrically-linked to the connector assembly by wire bonds embedded into the package such that the wire bonds and connector remain protected from the high moisture environment surrounding the brain.