Thin-film electrode technology is on the verge of reaching the market and generating significant interest from neurologists and neurosurgeons managing patients with epilepsy and brain tumors. In terms of resolution, the difference in old and new electrode technology is comparable to today’s television resolution versus that of a TV built in the 1960s, when electrode technology was initially developed.

When compared with other therapeutic areas, advances in this technology have not kept pace. In fact, current commercially available technology is outdated: it offers limited resolution, requires invasive surgeries for implantation, and is expensive to manufacture—in part because it is generally handmade. What’s more, the silicone base of existing electrode technology does not optimally conform to the brain compared to thin-film polyimide material. Existing electrode technology is also limited in its ability to increase the recording resolution of the electrodes under its current design.

In contrast, new polyimide thin-film technologies may provide higher resolution recording for more advanced clinical applications. Developers of this innovative thin-film technology also anticipate the replacement of current silicone electrodes with polyimide substrate electrodes for acquisition of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) could provide enhanced clinical electrophysiological value with reduced cost, infection risk, and patient discomfort.


Advantages of Latest Thin-Film Technology
Thin-film strip and grid electrodes made with polyimide thin-film technology are an effective way to increase mechanical flexibility. This is better for the brain, because they weigh less than traditional electrodes and conform more completely to the brain to optimize contact. Also, this technology could be scaled to provide high-definition recordings, enabling the clinician to be more precise in identifying the problematic tissue.

Contacts on the electrodes may be scaled down in size, improving the ability to increase resolution, as well as customize electrode configurations to meet physician requests. Given its automated manufacturing system, this technology also shows promise for reducing lead times to customers.

Finally, in pre-clinical studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the thin-film cortical electrodes demonstrated a reduction in the brain’s immunological response, which should increase patient comfort and reduce signal artifacts associated with the brain electrode interface.

Promising Thin-Film Electrode Platform
The new Evo Cortical Electrodes (Evo), for example, are designed to record brain activity and stimulate brain tissue for up to 30 days. This platform technology has the potential to provide new solutions for various neurosurgical applications.

Evo is the result of collaboration with the University of Madison-Wisconsin’s Alumni Research Foundation and the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. This high-definition, minimally invasive thin-film electrode is designed for diagnosis and treatment of various neurological conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease (PD), and chronic pain due to failed back surgeries.

NeuroOne recently executed an exclusive development and distribution agreement giving Zimmer Biomet exclusive global rights to distribute Evo.

In another technology advance, the sEEG Depth Electrode is an expansion of NeuroOne’s thin-film platform and has advantages that will include the ability to access deep cortical structures (where Evo cortical electrodes are placed on the brain’s surface) and the electrodes will be implanted through tiny twist holes instead of a craniotomy. The less invasive implant procedure should lead to fewer complications, less post-operative pain, and a shorter stay in the hospital.

Potentially, this high-definition thin-film platform could fit well into the evolving neuroscience research and allow for more effective and precise neuron stimulation. To expedite its entry into research studies and to drive future development, NeuroOne has assembled an advisory board that includes seven leading artificial intelligence experts to assist in the technology’s planning, development, and application.
 
*Rx only