Thesis
Design and development of metal-polymer film systems for flexible electrodes used in cortical mapping in rats
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101251
Abstract
A flexible electrode array for chronic neural implantation in rats has been developed and characterized. Using MEMS techniques, a 64 channel gold on Kapton array was fabricated and tested for electrical and mechanical durability. Principal problems with electrode arrays from previous designs included gold delamination at low strains, relatively low (80%) yield of working channels per array, and proven biocompatibility only for short implantation times. Optimization of fabrication techniques resulted in 95% yield per average array. Using four point bend testing, the effect of a variety of adhesion-promoting treatments were tested. Oxygen plasma etching prior to gold deposition was quantitatively shown to increase the adhesion of gold to Kapton, and use of titanium or a titanium-tungsten alloy interlayer between the gold and Kapton also had significant effect on improving the durability of the device. Gold-Kapton systems with and without these pre-treatments were immersed in 60°C Ringers Solution for a period of 10 weeks to evaluate polymer swelling. The adhesion layers proved to resist failure for at least 10 weeks, while samples without such layers failed at 4 weeks. Implanted electrodes were tested for cortical signal recording in awake rats, and gave meaningful data for at least 80 days.
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Details
- Title
- Design and development of metal-polymer film systems for flexible electrodes used in cortical mapping in rats
- Creators
- John David Yeager
- Contributors
- David F. Bahr (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525045201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis