IN DEPTH has developed a low-invasiveness opto-electrical neural interface able to gather simultaneously electrophysiology and optical signals with depth resolution and reduced invasiveness. Neuroscientists and neurosurgeons are indeed looking for devices able to identify tumorigenic tissue and simultaneously record neural activity, in order to improve the effectiveness of tumor resection procedures and to better identify the molecular and electrochemical properties of the tumor microenvironment.
We have prototyped minimally invasive tapered optical fibers (TFs) for multipoint light collection and electrophysiology, which has the potential to find application in fluorescence-guided resection of brain tumors, giving neurosurgeons the possibility to check also the tumor depth and monitor electrical activity during surgery.
In particular, the project has devised a fabrication process to produce hair-thin optoelectric neural implants by employing an optical lithography technique to obtain high-resolution optical and electrical communication channels with brain cells. The obtained non-planar microstructured neural implant is then connected to a planar printed circuit board, resulting in a device that reaches the 4th technology readiness level. The device has shown high efficiency in catching both electrical and optical signal from brain tissue.
Together with the experimental activity, the project has evaluated potential intellectual property to be setup as well as possible strategies to bring the developed technology to market.
