Date of Graduation
5-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Electrical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Varadan, V.K., 1943-
Abstract
Miniaturized multi-electrode arrays are MEMS devices that have found use as neural prosthetics (Neuro-MEMS). As implants they can interface with neurons as sensors or actuators and help compensate for loss of sensory input, motor control, or cognitive function. The micro-electrodes, studied here, were developed in-house. They have a vertically aligned gold nanowire array and are mounted on a sturdy fine gauge titanium needle. Hence, the bill of materials and design characteristics encourage its use as neural probe. For this study, a probe was tested in vivo for signal acquisition in the hippocampus of a Rattus Norvegicus (Sprague Dawley Rat). Using an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol, the neural probe was deployed in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of a sedated rat. The signal was obtained as voltage against time and it was filtered for isolated spikes of neural activity, which were sorted in form of a Spike Train-Raster Plot. The qualitative evaluation of data, obtained through the newly developed neural probe, was used as ground work to decide on future research and discuss possible clinical impacts.
Citation
Kegley, L. (2012). Testing the Efficiency of Vertically Aligned Gold Nanowires on a Titanium Needle Implantable Neural Electrodes in the Rattus Norvegicus Hippocampus. Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/eleguht/22