STEER: 3D Printed Guide for Nerve Regrowth Control and Neural Interface in Non-Human Primate Model
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IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME)
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Our work aims to address the challenging problem of reactive-fibrosis in establishing a long term peripheral neural interface (PNI). We present a novel interface – STEER PNI – that harnessed the fibro-axonal growth from the nerve and incorporated fibrosis in its design. STEER PNI consists of a synthetic guide that steers fibro-axonal growth toward encapsulation of the electrodes incorporated within the guide itself. We validated the functionality of this interface in macaques with electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry. This design provides a practical approach for creating long term neural interfaces with applications in neuro-prosthetics and beyond.
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