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Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Wearable electronic devices are becoming key players in monitoring the body signals predominantly altered during physical activity tracking. Considering ...

Université Côte d'Azur

Neural regeneration after lesions is still limited by several factors and new technologies are developed to address this issue. Here, we present and test in animal models a new regenerative nerve cuff electrode (RnCE). It is based on a novel low-cost fabrication strategy, called "Print and Shrink", which combines the inkjet printing of a conducting polymer with a heat-shrinkable polymer substrate for the development of a bioelectronic interface. This method allows to produce miniaturized regenerative cuff electrodes without the use of cleanroom facilities and vacuum based deposition methods, thus highly reducing the production costs. To fully proof the electrodes performance  we assessed functional recovery and adequacy to support axonal regeneration after section of rat sciatic nerves and repair with RnCE. We investigated the possibility to stimulate the nerve to activate different muscles, both in acute and chronic scenarios. Three months after implantation, RnCEs were able to stimulate regenerated motor axons and induce a muscular response. The capability to produce fully-transparent nerve interfaces provided with polymeric microelectrodes through a cost-effective manufacturing process is an unexplored approach in neuroprosthesis field. Our findings pave the way to the development of new and more usable technologies for nerve regeneration and neuromodulation.

All-Polymer Printed Low-Cost Regenerative Nerve Cuff Electrodes.

Facemasks are used as a personal protective equipment in medical services. They became compulsory during the recent COVID-19 pandemic at large. Their barrier effectiveness during various daily activities over time has been the subject of much debate. We propose the fabrication of an organic sensor to monitor the integrity of surgical masks to ensure individuals' health and safety during their use. Inkjet printing of an interdigitated conducting polymer-based sensor on the inner layer of the mask proved to be an efficient and direct fabrication process to rapidly reach the end user. The sensor's integration happens without hampering the mask functionality and preserving its original air permeability. Its resistive response to humidity accumulation allows it to monitor the mask's wetting in use, providing a quantified way to track its barrier integrity and assist in its management. Additionally, it detects the user's respiration rate as a capacitive response to the exhaled humidity, essential in identifying breathing difficulties or a sign of an infection. Respiration evaluations during daily activities show outstanding performance in relation to unspecific motion artifacts and breathing resolution. This e-mask yields an integrated solution for home-based individual monitoring and an advanced protective equipment for healthcare professionals.

Laura M. Ferrari

INRIA

Université Côte d'Azur

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

Laura M. Ferrari

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Université Côte d'Azur

Conformable Wearable Electrodes: From Fabrication to Electrophysiological Assessment

INRIA