Laser patterning of platinum electrodes for safe neurostimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Laser surface modification of platinum (Pt) electrodes was investigated for use in neuroprosthetics. Surface modification was applied to increase the surface area of the electrode and improve its ability to transfer charge within safe electrochemical stimulation limits. APPROACH: Electrode arrays were laser micromachined to produce Pt electrodes with smooth surfaces, which were then modified with four laser patterning techniques to produce surface structures which were nanosecond patterned, square profile, triangular profile and roughened on the micron scale through structured laser interference patterning (SLIP). Improvements in charge transfer were shown through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and biphasic stimulation at clinically relevant levels. A new method was investigated and validated which enabled the assessment of in vivo electrochemically safe charge injection limits. MAIN RESULTS: All of the modified surfaces provided electrical advantage over the smooth Pt. The SLIP surface provided the greatest benefit both in vitro and in vivo, and this surface was the only type which had injection limits above the threshold for neural stimulation, at a level shown to produce a response in the feline visual cortex when using an electrode array implanted in the suprachoroidal space of the eye. This surface was found to be stable when stimulated with more than 150 million clinically relevant pulses in physiological saline. SIGNIFICANCE: Critical to the assessment of implant devices is accurate determination of safe usage limits in an in vivo environment. Laser patterning, in particular SLIP, is a superior technique for improving the performance of implant electrodes without altering the interfacial electrode chemistry through coating. Future work will require chronic in vivo assessment of these electrode patterns.

Performance of conducting polymer electrodes for stimulating neuroprosthetics.

OBJECTIVE: Recent interest in the use of conducting polymers (CPs) for neural stimulation electrodes has been growing; however, concerns remain regarding the stability of coatings under stimulation conditions. These studies examine the factors of the CP and implant environment that affect coating stability. The CP poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is examined in comparison to platinum (Pt), to demonstrate the potential performance of these coatings in neuroprosthetic applications. APPROACH: PEDOT is coated on Pt microelectrode arrays and assessed in vitro for charge injection limit and long-term stability under stimulation in biologically relevant electrolytes. Physical and electrical stability of coatings following ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilization is established and efficacy of PEDOT as a visual prosthesis bioelectrode is assessed in the feline model. MAIN RESULTS: It was demonstrated that PEDOT reduced the potential excursion at a Pt electrode interface by 72% in biologically relevant solutions. The charge injection limit of PEDOT for material stability was found to be on average 30× larger than Pt when tested in physiological saline and 20× larger than Pt when tested in protein supplemented media. Additionally stability of the coating was confirmed electrically and morphologically following ETO processing. It was demonstrated that PEDOT-coated electrodes had lower potential excursions in vivo and electrically evoked potentials (EEPs) could be detected within the visual cortex. SIGNIFICANCE: These studies demonstrate that PEDOT can be produced as a stable electrode coating which can be sterilized and perform effectively and safely in neuroprosthetic applications. Furthermore these findings address the necessity for characterizing in vitro properties of electrodes in biologically relevant milieu which mimic the in vivo environment more closely.

Advancements in electrode design and laser techniques for fabricating micro-electrode arrays as part of a retinal prosthesis.

Retinal micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) for a visual prosthesis were fabricated by laser structuring of platinum (Pt) foil and liquid silicone rubber. A new design was created using a folding technique to create a multi-layered array from a single Pt sheet. This method allowed a reduction in both the electrode pitch, and the overall width of the array, while maintaining coplanar connection points for more stable interconnections to other components of the system. The design also included a section which could be rolled to create a cylindrical segment in order to minimise the size of the exit in the sclera after implantation. A picosecond mode-locked 532 nm laser system was investigated as a replacement for the nanosecond Q-switched 1064 nm laser currently in use. Trials showed that the ps system could produce high quality electrode tracks with a minimum pitch of 30 µm, less than 40% the pitch achievable with the ns laser. A method was investigated for the cutting of Pt foils without damaging the underlying silicone by laser machining to a depth just below the thickness of the foil. Initial samples showed promise with full penetration of the foil only occurring at cross points of the laser paths. The ps laser was also used to create roughened surfaces, in order to increase the electrochemical surface area of the electrodes. Surfaces were imaged using a scanning electron microscope, and compared to surfaces roughened with the ns laser. The ps laser was seen to offer a reduction in feature size, as well as an increase in control over the appearance of the electrode surface.