Minimally Invasive Endovascular Neural Interfaces for Brain Recording and Modulation

Implantable neuroelectronic interfaces for recording and modulating brain activity can treat drug-resistant neurological diseases; however, traditional electrode implantation requires invasive open-skull surgery and poses considerable risks, such as intracortical bleeding and infection, and inevitably damages the brain. To address these issues, this proposal aims to create a platform for endovascular delivery of chronically-stable probes for robust recording and modulation of neural activity. Previous works have demonstrated the feasibility of endovascular implantation and recording by developing flexible neural probes that can be delivered into sub-100-micron cortical vessels to acutely record local field potentials and single-unit activity in anesthetized rats. In this proposal, the capabilities of the endovascular probes will be expanded by first achieving controllable implantation into other vessels, followed by systematic studies and characterizations of endovascular recording and stimulation, with a focus on single-unit activity in anesthetized rats, and finally manufacturing stretchable endovascular probes for long-term implantation and recording in awake, behaving rats. This proposal is significant because it will develop a platform technology that can be readily extended to the detection and treatment of other chronic and progressive neurological diseases, and serves as the foundation for the clinical translation of minimally invasive neuroelectronic interfaces to neurology, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology practice..