Abstract: For improving the electroactivity and long-term stability of a neural interface, a novel neural probe (1) is proposed that is formed from a fiber (6), preferably by thermal imprinting, and wherein a polymer thin film (5) is employed for carrying a conducting thin film to be used as a recording or stimulation electrode (4). Due to this specific choice of materials and design, the electrode (4) is rendered compliant with respect to the fiber (6) on a nanometer to micrometer scale and offers a surface that is tailor-made for adhering to nervous tissue.

Abstract: A novel waveguide with excellent optical properties can be easily produced. The photonic nanowires based waveguide has a) a plurality of nanowires; each nanowire having a ridge shape; b) the nanowires are supported by a support substrate or partially or totally free standing; c) the support substrate further supports interfacing waveguides disposed on both sides of the plurality of nanowires. The special concept of present invention allows to align a number of ridge-shaped nanowire that enables to control the amount of light being outside the solid waveguide in the evanescence field. Further, the design is compatible with solid waveguides and offers the possibility to confine (guide the light) within a multiple waveguide arrangement.

Abstract: In a method for structuring the surface of a synthetic fiber, a substantially cylindrical fiber (2) is provided with a predefined surface structure (38, 38a, 38b) by means of plastic deformation. A fiber (2) that is supplied in a plastically deformable state is plastically deformed in an embossing process by means of a micro-lithographically structured embossing roller (28) having a maximum structural fineness of 10 ?m and is then transferred into a rigid state while the created surface structure (38, 38a, 38b) is maintained.