Parylene flexible neural probe with micro fluidic channel

Abstract

A flexible neural probe with an integrated fluidic channel is proposed. Since parylene thin film is used as the main structure, the probe is sufficiently flexible to perform a less invasive implant for neural recording. The micro fluidic channel of this probe can be used not only to inject certain chemicals into biological tissues but also to improve mechanical stiffness prior to the insertion when the channel is filled with rigid polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is dissolved into the tissues. We have succeeded in inserting the probe into a rat's brain and measuring the neural signals from it.