KR-20260065547-A - DEVELOPMENT OF A MODULAR NEURAL INTERFACE FOR MULTI-SITE BRAIN STIMULATION AND EEG RECORDING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system capable of measuring and stimulating neural signals between the deep brain and the cerebral cortex through an electrode array integrating optical stimulation, electrical stimulation, and drug delivery.

Inventors

• 신효근

Assignees

• 경북대학교 산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251029

Priority Date

20241031

Claims (7)

1. Flexible substrate; A brainwave (EEG) electrode disposed on the upper surface of the above flexible substrate and capable of measuring electrical signals; An electrical circuit disposed on the upper surface of the above flexible substrate and transmitting a measured electrical signal; An opening provided on one side of the flexible substrate; and It includes a detachable module that is selectively attached to the above-mentioned opening, and The above detachable module is, A neural probe that performs at least one of electrical measurement and stimulation; Optical fiber that performs optical stimulation; and A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording characterized by including microneedles that perform chemical stimulation.
2. In paragraph 1, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the thickness of the flexible substrate is 30 to 40 μm.
3. In paragraph 1, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the flexible substrate comprises polyimide.
4. In paragraph 1, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the above neural probe includes a gold (Au) electrode and a black platinum (Black Pt) electrode.
5. In paragraph 4, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the above-mentioned neural probe comprises a polyimide substrate.
6. In Article 1, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the optical fiber above comprises silica.
7. In Article 1, A modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording, characterized in that the depth of the opening is 200 to 300 μm.

Description

Modular Neural Interface for Multi-Site Brain Stimulation and EEG Recording The present invention relates to a modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system capable of measuring and stimulating neural signals between the deep brain and the cerebral cortex through an electrode array integrating optical stimulation, electrical stimulation, and drug delivery. The brain is composed of various neural circuits, and understanding the functional connectivity between these circuits is a key factor in elucidating the brain's fundamental functions and the causes of various neurological diseases. In particular, studying the functional connectivity between the deep brain and the cerebral cortex plays a crucial role in identifying the causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as in developing treatments. To this end, various two-dimensional and three-dimensional neural interface technologies have recently been developed. For example, 2D and 3D electrode arrays are being used to study functional connectivity through the measurement and stimulation of neural signals in deep brain regions. However, existing neural interfaces are generally designed to measure or stimulate neural signals at a single location, which has limited simultaneous stimulation and signal measurement at multiple locations. In particular, conventional techniques relying on electrical stimulation show limitations in the precise study of neural circuits and cell-selective stimulation. Optogenetics offers advantages in that it enables precise neural stimulation capable of selectively activating or inhibiting specific neurons, but systems for applying this technology at multiple locations are still lacking. Accordingly, the present invention aims to overcome the limitations of existing technology by providing a modular neural interface that enables signal measurement and stimulation at multiple locations and integrates electrical stimulation, optical stimulation, and drug delivery functions into a single platform. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates an application example of each module of a modular neural interface for multiple brain stimulation and brainwave recording. FIG. 3 illustrates a manufacturing process diagram of a flexible substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates the impedance analysis results of (a) a flexible substrate and (b) a neural probe according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates an actual application photograph of photostimulation (a) and drug delivery (b) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows the PSD density measured in the frontal and occipital lobes of a mouse. Figure 7 shows a spectrogram representing the frequency and magnitude over time in the frontal lobe of a mouse. Figure 8 shows a spectrogram representing the frequency and magnitude over time in the occipital lobe of a mouse. Figure 9 shows a graph of EEG signals measured in various regions of the brain. Figure 10 shows a graph of spike signals measured in a specific region of the brain. Figure 11 shows the graph of EEG signals measured in the frontal and occipital lobes after electrical stimulation of the hippocampus (CA3 region). Figure 12 shows spectrograms representing the frequency and magnitude over time in the frontal and occipital lobes after electrical stimulation of the hippocampus (CA3 region). The terms and words used in the specification and claims described below should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define terms to best describe his invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application. Throughout the specification, when a part is described as "comprising" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Furthermore, when a part is described as "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly connected" but also cases where they are "electrically connected" with other elements interposed between them. The terms used herein are for describing specific embodiments and are n