A mechanically stable neural probe for percutaneous high-resolution, multi-channel recordings in peripheral nerves

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract The development of neural probes has enabled a deeper understanding and improved treatment for neurological disorders. Microneurography is currently the gold standard for assessing the electrophysiological signature of pain mechanisms in the human peripheral nervous system. However, its clinical utility is limited by the low recording yield and signal-to-noise ratio of single-electrode probes. To overcome these limitations, we developed mechanically robust, multi-electrode probes designed for acute percutaneous insertion and recording in peripheral nerves. The electrical and mechanical stability of these probes was confirmed through repeated insertions in artificial human skin and rat peripheral nerves. In addition, ex vivo and in vivo experiments demonstrated enhanced functional performance, with multi-site recordings enabling the isolation of single-fiber activity. Importantly, our probes can be operated analogously to conventional microneurography needles while substantially increasing the information yield, providing enhanced capabilities for minimally invasive peripheral nerve assessment.

Authors 8

1. Erkan Yilmaz

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-3) - Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany

2. Anoushka Jain Aachen Institute of Biology 2

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-3) - Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Biology 2, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany

3. Stas Koulchitsky Aachen

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. James Dunham

   University of Bristol

   Affiliation as printed

   Anaesthesia, Pain and Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD Bristol, United Kingdom

5. Anthony Edward Pickering

   University of Bristol

   Affiliation as printed

   Anaesthesia, Pain and Critical Care Research, School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, BS8 1TD Bristol, United Kingdom

6. Barbara Namer Aachen

   Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   University of Erlangen Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany

7. Simon Musall Aachen Institute of Biology 2

   University of Bonn · Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-3) - Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany

   Institute of Biology 2, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany

8. Viviana Rincón Montes corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-3) - Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany