Soft Bio-Interfaces for Physiological Sensing and Modulation

We will demonstrate penetrating peripheral recording and stimulating devices using engineered low cure stress softening polymer substrates. Polymers can be implanted at moduli of more than 1 GPa and soften toward the modulus of tissue. Neural interfaces allow for delivery of a large amount of information, but current microstimulators or microrecorders fail chronically or are poorly suited for interfacing with small biological structures, such as sensory peripheral nerves. We discuss chronic device failure through design of both materials and devices to overcome various failure mechanisms. We demonstrate the effects of softening vagus nerve interfaces and penetrating, coiling cochlear implants. We will demonstrate spinal stimulators that reduce inflammation and tissue response and behave in a manner similar to ball electrodes for use in understanding long-term muscle plasticity. We demonstrate softening peripheral neural interfaces for modulating sensory and motor input toward closed-loop feedback for prosthetics. We will support the neuroscience research community and the wounded warrior with devices toward future clinical work based on this feasibility study.