Interfacing With The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Using Targeted Fascicular Interface Device

摘要

A stealthy conductor that may be placed inside a fascicle in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is described. The conductor is placed using a targeted-fascicle or targeted-axon approach to improve specificity and signal to noise ratio (SNR). The conductor is part of a targeted fascicular interface device and is placed using an insertion tool in a manner that reduces nerve damage as compared to conventional systems. The conductor is so small (e.g., <10 μm diameter) and so flexible (e.g., approximates flexibility of surrounding neuronal material) that biological reactions (e.g., recruitment of macrophages, edema) to the presence of the conductor may be reduced. The targeted fascicular interface device has an insulated portion and a non-insulated portion that may act as an electrode. The insulated portion may include materials that promote healing at the entry/exit site and that adhere to the perineurium.

主权项

1. A device for interfacing with a selected axon inside a single fascicle in a nerve in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) via a single hole in the epineurium of the nerve and a single hole in the perineurium of the fascicle, comprising:
a biocompatible conductor capable of receiving an electrical signal from the axon or providing an electrical stimulation to the axon while positioned within a threshold distance of the axon, where the conductor has a diameter of less than 11 μm, and where the conductor has a flexural rigidity measure of less than 1.5×10−15 Pa*m2, and an insulator that covers at least a portion of the conductor,
where the insulator comprises a material that promotes healing at the single hole in the perineurium, and where the insulator comprises a material that adheres to the perineurium.