Integrated high-resolution untethered flexible neural implant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016331994-A1
Application number	US-201515111952-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for stimulating neural tissue are disclosed. An array of optically emissive pixels is configured to deliver light to the neural tissue of a subject. Individual pixels within the array can be addressed to selectively illuminate a portion of the neural tissue when a neurological event occurs. The system can also include an array of microelectrodes in electrical communication with the array of pixels and a power source. A biocompatible substrate can be used to support the microelectrodes pixels, and the power source. A microelectrode circuit and a pixel circuit can also be supported by the biocompatible substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for monitoring and stimulating tissue in a subject, the system comprising:
an array of microelectrodes electrically coupled to the tissue of the subject and configured to communicate electrical signals with the tissue; an addressable array of optically emissive pixels configured to communicate with the array of microelectrodes and to communicate light to the tissue; a microelectrode circuit electrically coupled to the array of microelectrodes and configured to receive electrical signals from individual microelectrodes in the array of microelectrodes; and a pixel circuit mapped to the array of optically emissive pixels to selectively illuminate individual optically emissive pixels in the array of optically emissive pixels.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a substrate supporting at least one of the array of microelectrodes, the microelectrode circuit, the pixel circuit, and the addressable array of optically emissive pixels.

3 . The system of claim 2 further comprising an inductor supported by the substrate and configured to provide operational power to at least one of the array of microelectrodes, the microelectrode circuit, the pixel circuit, and the addressable array of optically emissive pixels.

4 . The system of claim 3 further comprising a wireless power supply in communication with the inductor and configured to provide power to the microelectrode circuit and the pixel circuit.

5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a heat sink configured to control a temperature of at least one of the array of microelectrodes, the microelectrode control circuit, the optically emissive element control circuit, and the addressable array of optically emissive elements.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the heat sink includes a heat dissipation foil.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the optically emissive pixels are flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the tissue is a cortical surface of a brain.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system forms a neural cuff, the neural cuff configured to be in contact with the tissue.

10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the tissue is a nerve of the subject.

11 . The system of claim 9 further including an array of biosensors configured to detect pain-related protein biomarkers.

12 . The system of claim 1 wherein the array of optically emissive pixels comprises at least one of blue pixels and yellow pixels.

13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the blue pixels communicate with cells expressing Channelrhodopsin and the yellow pixels communicate with cells expressing Halorhodospin.

14 . A method for monitoring and stimulating neural tissue of a subject, the method comprising:
(a) connecting a system for monitoring and stimulating neural tissue to a power source; (b) monitoring the neural tissue of the subject for a neurological event; (c) receiving a location of electrical signals from the neural tissue of the subject; (d) identifying an origin of the neurological event based upon the location of electrical signals; and (e) delivering an optical signal to the origin to relieve the neurological event.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein step (d) further comprises selectively illuminating an optically emissive pixel of an array of optically emissive pixels based on the location of the origin of the neurological event.

16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the neurological event is a seizure.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein step (e) further comprises optically stimulating the neural tissue of the subject affected by the seizure to reduce effects of the seizure.

18 . The method of claim 14 wherein step (a) further comprises selectively turning the power source to at least one of an on position and an off position to control a temperature of the system.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the system for monitoring and stimulating neural tissue is a neural cuff.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further includes the step of delivering plasmids configured for gene therapy to a nerve surrounded by the neural cuff.

Assignees

• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Smith Joseph
• O'Brien Barry
• Lee Yong-Kyn
• Bawolek Edward
• Chrostam Jennifer Blain
• Gooryll Michael
• Muthuswamy Jitendran
• Kunnen George R
• Allee David

Classifications

• A61N2005/0653

  Organic light emitting diodes · CPC title

• A61N5/0622 Primary

  Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue · CPC title

• A61N5/0601

  Apparatus for use inside the body · CPC title

• A61N2005/0626

  Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods · CPC title

• A61N2005/0612

  using probes penetrating tissue; interstitial probes · CPC title