TY - JOUR
T1 - A simple implantation method for flexible, multisite microelectrodes into rat brains
AU - Richter, Anja
AU - Xie, Yijing
AU - Schumacher, Anett
AU - Löeffler, Susanne
AU - Kirch, Robert
AU - Al-Hasani, Jafaar
AU - Rapoport, Daniel H.
AU - Kruse, Charli
AU - Moser, Andreas
AU - Tronnier, Volker
AU - Danner, Sandra
AU - Hofmann, Ulrich G.
PY - 2013/7/2
Y1 - 2013/7/2
N2 - A long term functional and reliable coupling between neural tissue and implanted microelectrodes is the key issue in acquiring neural electrophysiological signals or therapeutically excite neural tissue. The currently often used rigid micro-electrodes are thought to cause a severe foreign body reaction resulting in a thick glial scar and consequently a poor tissue-electrode coupling in the chronic phase. We hypothesize, that this adverse effect might be remedied by probes compliant to the soft brain tissue, i.e. replacing rigid electrodes by flexible ones. Unfortunately, this flexibility comes at the price of a low stiffness, which makes targeted low trauma implantation very challenging. In this study, we demonstrate an adaptable and simple method to implant extremely flexible microprobes even to deep areas of rat's brain. Implantation of flexible probes is achieved by rod supported stereotactic insertion fostered by a hydrogel (2% agarose in PBS) cushion on the exposed skull. We were thus able to implant very flexible micro-probes in 70 rats as deep as the rodent's subthalamic nucleus. This work describes in detail the procedures and steps needed for minimal invasive, but reliable implantation of flexible probes.
AB - A long term functional and reliable coupling between neural tissue and implanted microelectrodes is the key issue in acquiring neural electrophysiological signals or therapeutically excite neural tissue. The currently often used rigid micro-electrodes are thought to cause a severe foreign body reaction resulting in a thick glial scar and consequently a poor tissue-electrode coupling in the chronic phase. We hypothesize, that this adverse effect might be remedied by probes compliant to the soft brain tissue, i.e. replacing rigid electrodes by flexible ones. Unfortunately, this flexibility comes at the price of a low stiffness, which makes targeted low trauma implantation very challenging. In this study, we demonstrate an adaptable and simple method to implant extremely flexible microprobes even to deep areas of rat's brain. Implantation of flexible probes is achieved by rod supported stereotactic insertion fostered by a hydrogel (2% agarose in PBS) cushion on the exposed skull. We were thus able to implant very flexible micro-probes in 70 rats as deep as the rodent's subthalamic nucleus. This work describes in detail the procedures and steps needed for minimal invasive, but reliable implantation of flexible probes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879702642&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fneng.2013.00006
DO - 10.3389/fneng.2013.00006
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84879702642
SN - 1662-6443
JO - Frontiers in Neuroengineering
JF - Frontiers in Neuroengineering
IS - JUL
ER -