Development of a multichannel implantable connector

Koch, Julia; Ordonez, Juan S.; Schüettler, Martin

doi:10.1109/embc.2015.7318484

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…As various regions in the nervous system are targeted and the number of neural electrodes increases, various implantable connectors with different connecting mechanisms and materials have been proposed [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. The 'Craggs connector' , which is a plug-and-socket-type connector sealed with silicone rubber, was introduced for a lumbar anterior root stimulator system and experimentally tested for its long-term stability in conjunction with the stimulator [13,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of a miniaturized, reconnectable, and implantable multichannel connector

et al. 2022

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Objective: Connectors for implantable neural prosthetic systems provide several advantages such as simplification of surgery, safe replacement of implanted devices, and modular design of the implant systems. With the rapid advancement of technologies for neural implants, miniaturized multichannel implantable connectors are also required. In this study, we propose a reconnectable and area-efficient multichannel implantable connector. Methods: A female-to-female adapter was fabricated using the thermal-press bonding of micropatterned liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films. A bump inside the adapter enabled a reliable electrical connection by increasing the contact pressure between the contact pads of the adapter and the inserted cable. After connection, the adapter is enclosed in a metal case sealed with silicone elastomer packing. With different sizes of the packings, leakage current tests were performed under accelerated conditions to determine the optimal design for long-term reliability. Repeated connection tests were performed to verify the durability and reconnectability of the fabricated connector. The connector was implanted in rats, and the leakage currents were monitored to evaluate the stability of the connector in vivo. Results: The fabricated four- and eight-channel implantable connectors, assembled with the metal cases, had a diameter and length of 6 and 17 mm, respectively. Further, the contact resistances of the four- and eight-channel connectors were 53.2 and 75.2 mΩ, respectively. The electrical contact remained stable during repeated connection tests (50 times). The fabricated connectors with packings having 125%, 137%, and 150% volume ratios to the internal space of the metal case failed after 14, 88, and 14 days, respectively, in a 75°C saline environment. In animal tests with rats, the connector maintained low leakage current levels for up to 92 days. Conclusion: An implantable and reconnectable multichannel connector was developed and evaluated. The feasibility of the proposed connector was evaluated in terms of electrical and mechanical characteristics as well as sealing performance. The proposed connector is expected to have potential applications in implantable neural prosthetic systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A 32-channel connector was fabricated on a silicon or polyimide substrate, and electrical contact with the stimulator was achieved through external housing parts. However, the long-term reliability of these connectors has not been evaluated in vitro or in vivo [17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a miniaturized, reconnectable, and implantable multichannel connector

et al. 2022

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Design of contact zone topography for implantable high-channel electrical connectors

Koch

Schüettler²

2017

2017 39th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC)

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Detachable high-channel electrical connections pose a bottleneck on the path to active implants with higher numbers of electrode contacts and miniaturized geometries. Not only low-resistance, reproducible and reliable contacts have to be realized but also seals that ensure electrical insulation in the harsh body environment. Using planar contact arrangements one can resort to laser microprocessing leading to minimal size connectors. However, this poses the need to carefully design the topographies within the contact zone. In this study, we assess different methods to design the topography of planar contact pad arrays. Using topographical analysis and evaluation of electrical functionality, influential mechanisms were identified and two functional ones have been selected.

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