HYBRID BIOELECTRICAL INTERFACE DEVICE

• US 20090292325A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Kipke, Daryl A., Urbancheck, Melanie G., Egeland, Brent M., Cederna, Paul S., Abidian, Mohammad Reza, Martin, David C., Richardson-Burns, Sarah, Peramo, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US12/432,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3675 Nerve tissue, e.g. brain, spinal cord, nerves, dura mater
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0543 Retinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components

Abstract

A hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) device can be an implantable device comprising an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions; a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, the biological component being sourced from biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized material; and a conjugated polymer component that together provide a means to chronically interface living neural tissue with electronic devices for extended durations (e.g. greater than 10 years). In some embodiments, conjugated polymers provide a functional electrical interface for charge transfer and signal transduction between the nervous system and an electronic device (e.g. robotic prosthetic limb, retinal implant, microchip).

Claims

1. A hybrid bioelectrical interface device for interfacing living neural tissue with electronic devices comprising:

an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions;

a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, said biological component being sourced from biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized material; and

a conjugated polymer component interfacing said abiotic component and said biological component, said conjugated polymer component promoting electronic to ionic charge transfer between said abiotic and biological components.

2. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a housing encapsulating at least a portion of said biological component, said conjugated polymer component and said abiotic component.

3. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 2, wherein said housing comprises a rigid framework, a hydrogel, a permeable membrane, an impermeable membrane or a polymeric material.

4. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises one or more of an electrolyte, a biologically active agent and cells.

5. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein said abiotic component is selected from the group consisting of a wire, an electrode, an electrode array, a microelectrode array or a microelectromechanical system.

6. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein said conjugated polymer component comprises poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly(pyrrole), polyanilines, polyacetylenes, poly-3-hexylthiophene, melanins, poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride, poly-4-vinylpyridine, poly(vinylalcohol), polythiophenes, conjugated derivatives thereof, functionalized polymers thereof or polymer blends thereof.

7. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 6, wherein said conjugated polymer component comprises poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT).

8. The hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 1, wherein said biological component comprises skeletal myocytes, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, acellularized tissue, extracellular matrix material (ECM) or combinations thereof.

9. An implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device for interfacing living neural tissue with electronic devices comprising:

an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions;

a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, said biological component being biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized;

a conjugated polymer scaffold interfacing said abiotic component and said biological component, said conjugated polymer scaffold promoting electronic to ionic charge transfer between said abiotic and biotic components; and

a housing having an electrolyte, said housing substantially surrounding at least a portion of said biological component, said conjugated polymer scaffold and said abiotic component.

10. The implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 9, wherein said housing comprises at least one of a stent, a hydrogel, a permeable membrane, an impermeable membrane or a polymeric material.

11. The implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 9, wherein said abiotic component is selected from the group consisting of a wire, an electrode, an electrode array, a microelectrode array or a microelectromechanical system.

12. The implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 9, wherein said conjugated polymer component comprises poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly(pyrrole), polyanilines, polyacetylenes, poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride, poly-4-vinylpyridine, poly(vinylalcohol), polythiophenes or polymer blends thereof.

13. The implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 12, wherein said conjugated polymer is FeCl₄⁻

doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and said FeCl₄⁻

doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is disposed within or around at least a portion of said biological component.

14. The implantable hybrid bioelectrical interface device according to claim 9, wherein said biological component comprises skeletal myocytes, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, acellularized tissue, extracellular matrix material (ECM) or combinations thereof.

15. A hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) device comprising:

an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions;

a acellularized tissue disposed at least partially on said abiotic component;

a conjugated polymer scaffold disposed at least partially within said biological component or at least partially covering said biological component; and

a housing comprising a polymer or a hydrogel material, said housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said housing covering at least a portion of at least one of said abiotic component, said acellularized tissue and said conjugated polymer scaffold.