Biosensors (Jan 2024)

System of Implantable Electrodes for Neural Signal Acquisition and Stimulation for Wirelessly Connected Forearm Prosthesis

  • Octavian Narcis Ionescu,
  • Eduard Franti,
  • Vlad Carbunaru,
  • Carmen Moldovan,
  • Silviu Dinulescu,
  • Marian Ion,
  • David Catalin Dragomir,
  • Carmen Marinela Mihailescu,
  • Ioan Lascar,
  • Ana Maria Oproiu,
  • Tiberiu Paul Neagu,
  • Ruxandra Costea,
  • Monica Dascalu,
  • Mihai Daniel Teleanu,
  • Gabriela Ionescu,
  • Raluca Teleanu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14010031
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
p. 31

Abstract

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There is great interest in the development of prosthetic limbs capable of complex activities that are wirelessly connected to the patient’s neural system. Although some progress has been achieved in this area, one of the main problems encountered is the selective acquisition of nerve impulses and the closing of the automation loop through the selective stimulation of the sensitive branches of the patient. Large-scale research and development have achieved so-called “cuff electrodes”; however, they present a big disadvantage: they are not selective. In this article, we present the progress made in the development of an implantable system of plug neural microelectrodes that relate to the biological nerve tissue and can be used for the selective acquisition of neuronal signals and for the stimulation of specific nerve fascicles. The developed plug electrodes are also advantageous due to their small thickness, as they do not trigger nerve inflammation. In addition, the results of the conducted tests on a sous scrofa subject are presented.

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