New electrode technology offers brain monitoring potential

Implantable electrodes optimised to capture signals from the brain have been developed by researchers at Lund University.

The special 3D electrodes are uniquely designed to be extremely soft and flexible in all three dimensions, allowing stable recordings to be captured from single neurons over a long period of time.

A technique for encapsulating the electrodes in a hard but dissolvable gelatine material has also been developed for the implantation process, ensuring the overall insertion is as gentle on the brain as possible.

This could make it easier to understand brain function in both healthy and diseased individuals. Past flexible electrodes have not been able to maintain their shape when implanted, while stiffer types can cause damage to the brain tissue.

The Lund University team has been working to develop a solution for this application for nearly nine years.

Study co-leader Professor Jens Schouenborg said: "This creates entirely new conditions for our understanding of what happens inside the brain, and for the development of more effective treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's disease and chronic pain conditions."