Development of a stretchable and implantable electrode array for measuring peripheral nerve signals

Abstract

As part of a collaboration project with the Department of Neurology at the University of Regensburg and the Institute of Biophysics at the University of Rostock, stretchable and implantable electrodes have been developed, aimed to obtain electric signals from peripheral nerves. These signals could serve for limb amputees to control a prosthetic device. Gold has been used for the electrode surface and the conductive paths, which are embedded in a stretchable polyurethane foil. Three separated electrode heads, with two electrodes each, can be located on the free surface of a peripheral nerve. In order to increase the signal yield and improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the electrode surface has been covered with a micro-nano crystalline gold layer (shark-teeth gold).