Objective Mixed integrated circuit technology and biotechnology represent a rapidly expanding field. The resulting combination of sensing, actuating, interfacing and intelligent processing provides implantable devices the perspective to efficiently compensate for failing organs. Bi-directional telemetry-controlled implanted micro-systems will represent a real breakthrough in healthcare and more specifically in functional electrical stimulation (FES). The afferent branch of a control loop is essential for matching responses to ongoing activity as well as automatically avoiding stimulation damage. Such systems will in addition collect information directly leading to further development of communications means with the nervous system. The IMANE research project aims at gathering the heterogeneous technologies that should concur at meeting these requirements at a highly competitive level.A new silicone rubber metallization process and electrode surface treatment will be developed with the expected result of a miniature nerve electrode holding a high density of well characterised contacts for interfacing biological tissues. An experimental study of the correlation between neural status and damage should yield the data required to implement safety rules in the control loop of implanted devices. This feature will contribute to eliminate the decoupling capacitors usually placed at the stimulator output where they impede miniaturisation by their volume and by the wasted voltage drop they introduce. An active neural recording chain will be integrated in the final electrode to give a direct access to the neural activity. An improved encapsulation technique will be applied to the embedded electronics and completed by a new electrode assembly method.The newly gained knowledge should be applicable in a broad range of FES medical devices but for the sake of efficiency, a single application, namely the treatment of epilepsy by vagus nerve stimulation, will be highlighted in this project. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsy Programme(s) FP6-IST - Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006). Topic(s) IST-2004-2.4.2 - Technologies and devices for micro/nano-scale integration Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN Address 1 place de l'universite 1348 Louvain-la-neuve Belgium See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all APPLIED MICROENGINEERING LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address 68, milton park OX14 4RX Abingdon See on map CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 3, rue michel-ange Paris cedex 16 See on map MATRA ELECTRONIQUE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue ferdinand meunier 60610 La croix saint ouen See on map NEUROTECH SA Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Place du levant 3 1348 Louvain-la-neuve See on map UNIVERSITEIT GENT Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sint pietersnieuwstraat 25 9000 Gent See on map UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON EU contribution € 0,00 Address See on map Links Website Opens in new window UNIVERSITY OF BATH United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Claverton down Bath See on map Links Website Opens in new window
