Objetivo
The NeuroProbes Integrated Project proposes to develop arrays of multifunctional microprobes for high temporal and spatial resolution brain studies that include freely moving subjects. The arrays will incorporate a third dimension in the form of multiple electrodes along their shanks and individual depth control. Microprobes will be designed for insertion in any part of cerebral cortex, including sulci of highly folded cortices such as those of humans.
They will integrate advanced features such as microfluidic channels for drug delivery, fine depth control, telemetry, and biosensors to ultimately provide electrical recording and stimulation as well as chemical sensing and stimulation. The technological development of such novel implementations will be done in coordination with biological experiments; array configurations will be specifically designed to support the experiments and their designs will be refined based on the results.
Microelectrode arrays incorporating multiple functions and telemetry were never before available to neuroscientists. Having three-dimensional recording capability by itself will permit the most complete mapping of local circuitry in the brain to date. Further, mechanical features proposed in our project such as the precise depth control both during insertion and in chronic use are highly desirable but have never been implemented. This is the first time that a concentrated effort between technologists, neurophysiologists and industrialists addresses such integration.
Specific clinical demonstrators will be included in the project; in particular we will be investigating the use of our new system in vision restoration of profoundly blind patients. Furthermore, the dissemination of the technological outcomes of this project can have an enormous impact in the study and therapy of other neurological disorders such as epilepsy, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and even brain tumours.