ERC ExpandNeuro

The central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous systems perform the fast information processing and transmission throughout the body. Injuries, diseases, and disorders in the CNS and PNS represent a major issue for personal health and society, as they are associated with several common medical conditions such as neuropathic and chronic pain, paralysis, major depressions, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy, to name a few.

Many of these conditions cannot be treated with medication but must be resolved by directly intervening in the electrical signaling of the nervous system. To access the relevant neural structures within the brain or nerves, penetrating probes are necessary. One major challenge, which is hampering the use of neural interfaces for precision medical treatments, is the huge mechanical mismatch between neural probes and nerve tissue, which in combination with natural bodily motions causes scar tissue formation around the probes.

This issue is especially severe for PNS interfaces due to excessive tissue motions around the probes. There is a lack of technologies that allows for chronic high-density interfacing within peripheral nerves and of deep regions within the brain. The objective of the ExpandNeuro research program is to address the current limitations by developing an ultrasoft neural probe technology that enables in situ distribution of electrodes deep inside nervous tissue.

ExpandNeuro, No. 101089075