Carbon Fiber

Microelectrode Array
for Chronic Recording
Preliminary Presentation

Group 12: Brennan Kandalaft, Luis Ruiz,

David Jones
Background: Long-Term Neural Recording

Client: Dr. Keith Hengen, WUSTL Biology Department

Field of Study: Long-Term stability of Neural Networks in the face of

neural plasticity for patients with neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s
etc.)

Target Population: Neuroscience Researchers performing academic

research; eventually, patients with neurological disorder

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Problem: Long-Term Stability and
Fabrication
Durability: Immune Response: Fabrication:
nichrome wires large (30µm) microelectrode
break down after diameter wires fabrication can
2-3 months produce brain take >1 week
immune response

Figure 1

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Armitage 2015 Science
Need Statement

The Hengen Lab's single-neuron chronic recording capabilities

are currently limited by the biocompatibility/biostability of their
nichrome microelectrodes, and they seek the development of a
more biostable carbon fiber neural recording array that will enable
long term (over 1 year) in vivo neural recordings.

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Project Scope

● Address fabrication difficulties of microelectrode arrays

● Incorporate carbon fiber electrodes
● Improve electrode stability within microelectrode array
● Maintain implantation durability

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Table 1: Design specifications with metrics.
Specification Metric

Cost of Development < $10,000

#of Recording Channels 64 channels per PCB, 512 for 8 stacked PCBs

Sampling Rate 25 kHz

# of PCBs when stacked 8 PCBs with one headstage (512 channels total)

Headstage compatibility Compatible with the current HS-640 e-cube headstage

Manufacture time (64 channels) < 1 hr

Mass per 1 PCB < 5g

Length per 1 PCB < 13mm

Width per 1 PCB < 5mm

Height per 1 PCB < 9.4mm

Electrode Biological Response No glial scarring around carbon electrodes

Electrode Functional Lifetime Record properly for longer than 1 year

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 Existing Solutions: Silicon Microgrid

Figure 2 Figure 3

Maharbiz et al. 2018 Journal of Neural Engineering

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 Existing Solutions: Poly(ethylene glycol)
Coating Figure 4

Patel et al. 2016 Journal of

Neural Engineering

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Existing Solutions: PEDOT Coating of
Low-Density Array

Figure 5

Patel et al. 2015 Journal of Neural Engineering 9

 Gantt Chart

Figure 6

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Team Responsibilities
Category Task Team Member
Scheduling Brennan
Communicating with Dr. Hengen David
Notebook Updating Luis
Administrative,
Weekly Reports Brennan
Note-keeping, Presentations
Prelim Report and Presentation Brennan
Progress Report and Presentation David
V & V Report and Presentation Luis
General Research Luis
Materials Research and Testing Brennan
R&D
PCB Modifications David
3D Modeling Luis
Manufacturing Reaching out to Suppliers David

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Questions?

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