Device Targets Specified Neuronal Tracts for Deep Brain Stimulation and Drug Delivery
This neural implant device delivers deep brain stimulation and treatment drugs to specified neural targets to treat common neurological disorders. Neurological disorders afflict millions of people in the United States, with the most common disorder, epilepsy, affecting 3.4 million people. Deep brain stimulation can treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, and obsessive-compulsive disorder with some success. However, available deep-brain-stimulation electrode devices target anatomical regions but not specific neuronal tracts, and they do not have the ability to deliver drugs. Additionally, these deep-brain-stimulation electrode implants are not compatible with MRI scans, making monitoring of post-operative patients difficult.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a neural implant that can deliver deep brain stimulation and treatment drugs to specific neuronal tracts. This neural implant device, made entirely from carbon nanofiber and polymer, is MRI-compatible.
Application
MRI-compatible neural implant that delivers targeted deep brain stimulation and therapeutics for neurological disorders
Advantages
- Composed of MRI-compatible material, allowing physicians to safely use MRI scans for post-operative monitoring
- Uses optogenetics technology, increasing the specificity of target neurons for deep brain stimulation
- Includes microfluidic channels, enabling drug delivery to specific neuronal tracts or sampling from the specific site
Technology
This neural implant device is an all-in-one, MRI-compatible implant with optical, electrical, microfluidic, and wireless functionalities used to treat neurological disorders. This device is composed entirely of carbon nanofiber and polymer, making it completely MRI-compatible. It incorporates optogenetics to selectively target genetically-defined populations of neurons for deep brain stimulation in vivo and has microfluidic channels that allow for precision drug delivery and sampling. Additionally, the device includes fluorescent microendoscopy, providing high resolution, real-time imaging of neurons in deep tissue. These features allow for the effective treatment of neurological disorders and provide unprecedented insights into the fields of neuroscience and neurodegeneration.
Brochure
