EXTENSIBLE, WIRELESS, AND IMPLANTABLE NEURAL-INTERFACE MICROSYSTEMS

Existing high-channel-count interfaces used to capture neural information from and to stimulate neural activity in tissues rely on transcutaneous connections to convey both information and power. These transcutaneous connections introduce a number of significant problems: limit patient comfort/mobility, increase infection risk, and significantly reduce the long-term system reliability. In this Phase II SBIR we will design, fabricate, evaluate, and begin the commercialization of a novel, extensible, wireless, hermetic, and implantable neural interface microsystems, capable of both multichannel recording and stimulation of CNS, PNS, and muscle tissues. The comprehensive system we proposeto fabricate will leverage extensive prior work (DoD SBIR Phase I supported) by Triangle BioSystems International, Inc. (TBSI), to successfully develop, manufacture and rapidly commercialize high-channel-count wireless neural telemetry products. Our objective is to define a system-level design approach to yield a manufacturable and commercializable general-purpose wireless neural telemetry system that will be broadly applicable to both the neuroscience and neuroengineering research and development communities. Our implantable bi-direction system will have a scalable architecture capable of at least 64 channels of recording and more than 16 channels of stimulation. To maximize likelihood of approval from the FDA, FCC, and IEC, we will create our prototypes to be informed by relevant standards and guidance documents.