Final Report Summary - µTHALYS (Micro-Technologies and Heterogeneous Advanced Platforms for Implantable Medical Systems)
In the Neurological application field, an important part of the research was dedicated to the applicability of controlled release and coating of the surface of the implants to avoid scar tissue formation. Successful long term implant tests with novel flexible electrodes have demonstrated this. Our team has developed a series of extremely flexible neural electrodes for brain research, which are smaller in cross-section than a single cell and are inserted in the brain carried in a dissolving microneedle. We have demonstrated that they work reliable for action potential recording for prolonged periods (> one year). The project has also allowed to design a chip for readout out large amounts of channels (256, and 4096 in a future version), and to work on the integration of the chip in brain implants. Another world first brain implant is a fully 3D self-expanding brain electrode to be capable to record activity in an abnormal brain cavity (arising e.g. due to stroke). The positive results have enabled new contacts and cooperation, e.g. with the Nerf research center and recently with yet another research group to restore vision by direct stimulation of the visual cortex. The experience on inertial sensors and its packaging technology has also been adopted to different research groups, e.g. in Cardiology to monitor cardiac output. So it is clear that new projects and animal studies are under way, as a spin-out of the expertise gained in µThalys. To conclude, the project was an important milestone in the development of medical implants that seamlessly integrate with the body.