Abstract: A flexible thin film metal oxide electrode fabrication methods and devices are provided and illustrated with thin film polyimide electrode formation and IrOx chemical bath deposition. Growth factors of the deposited film such as film thickness, deposition rate and quality of crystallites can be controlled by varying the solution pH, temperature and component concentrations of the bath. The methods allow for selective deposition of IrOx on a flexible substrate (e.g. polyimide electrode) where the IrOx will only coat onto an exposed metal area but not the entire device surface. This feature enables the bath process to coat the IrOx onto every individual electrode in one batch, and to ensure electrical isolation between channels. The ability to perform selective deposition, pads for external connections will not have IrOx coverage that would otherwise interfere with a soldering/bumping process.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal stimulation apparatus and methods with an electronic controller and a flexible and stretchable electrode array with a central branch and orthogonal bilateral branches that wrap around a section of the gastrointestinal tract and can accommodate repetitive contraction and relaxation movements of the tract. Array branches have a flexible spring structure, stimulation electrodes, recording electrodes, sensors controlled by a controller and adhesion nodes that fix the branches to the tissue. The electrode array can sense the normal peristalsis from upstream tissue and produce a stimulus signal to stimulate the incapable intestine section to generate stimulation-induced contractions. Electrodes on the incapable intestine section can be used for stimulation or recording, the recorded signal from the incapable intestine section can be sent back to the electronics to form a closed loop control system.

Abstract: A wireless implant and associated system for motor function recovery after spinal cord injury, and more particularly a multi-channel wireless implant with small package size. The wireless implant can further be used in various medical applications, such as retinal prostheses, gastrointestinal implant, vagus nerve stimulation, and cortical neuromodulation. The system also includes a method and its implementation to acquire the impedance model of the electrode-tissue interface of the implant.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a transcutaneous needle electrode and uses thereof are provided. In certain embodiments the needle electrodes comprise a plurality of electrically conductive needles, where the needles are solid, or where the needles are hollow and have a closed tip, where the needles have an average tip diameter less than about 10 ?m and an average length greater than about 20-50 ?m wherein the electrically conductive needles are electrically coupled to one or more electrical leads.

Abstract: A disposable implant that may be positioned inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract through laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery. The implant may be secured in place using a biodegradable glue or biodegradable suture and is naturally expelled from the body with bowel movement after a certain period of time. In one embodiment, GI implant comprises a coil that receives power from, and sends the recorded physiological information to, an external device through wireless inductive coupling.

Abstract: A system and method of suppressing stimulation artifacts when performing electrophysiological electrical stimulation and recording. An artifact waveform is captured associated with a stimulus output, and then the artifact waveform calibrated during another stimulus output for accurately representing the actual artifact waveform received within each measured response to a stimulus. During actual stimulus generation and response recording, the calibrated artifact waveform is subtracted in at least one of the amplifier stages so that the artifacts are removed from the amplified response to the stimulus thus providing an accurate output without saturating the amplifiers.

Abstract: An ultra-dense electrode-based brain imaging system with high spatial and temporal resolution. A Sparsity and Smoothness enhanced Method Of Optimized electrical TomograpHy (s-SMOOTH) based reconstruction technique to improve the spatial resolution and localization accuracy of reconstructed brain images is described. Also described is a graph Fractional-Order Total Variation (gFOTV) based reconstruction technique to improve the spatial resolution and localization accuracy of reconstructed brain images.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a transcutaneous needle electrode and uses thereof are provided. In certain embodiments the needle electrodes comprise a plurality of electrically conductive needles, where the needles are solid, or where the needles are hollow and have a closed tip, where the needles have an average tip diameter less than about 10 ?m and an average length greater than about 20-50 ?m wherein the electrically conductive needles are electrically coupled to one or more electrical leads.

Abstract: Neural signal recording apparatus and method is described, in which a micro electrode array is utilized for performing a weighted matrix as a moving window providing superpositioning of electrode signals. A voltage distribution across the electrode array is determined as a Laplacian. The apparatus and method can be utilized in a variety of electrode sensing applications involving registering neural activity, and for electrode stimulation applications, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wireless wearable high data throughput (big data) brain machine interface apparatus is presented. An implanted recording and transmitting module collects neural data from a plurality of implanted electrodes and wirelessly transmits this over a short distance to a wearable (not implanted) receiving and forwarding module, which communicates the data over a wired communication to a mobile post processing device. The post processing device can send this neural data to an external display or computer enabled device for viewing and/or manipulation. High data throughput is supported by aggregating multiple groups of electrodes by multiple n-channel recording elements, which are multiplexed and then modulated into high frequency wireless communications to the wearable module. Embodiments include use of multiple radiators (multiple polarizations and/or spatially distributed), with beam alignment adjustment.

Abstract: Neural signal recording apparatus and method is described, in which a micro electrode array is utilized for performing a weighted matrix as a moving window providing superpositioning of electrode signals. A voltage distribution across the electrode array is determined as a Laplacian. The apparatus and method can be utilized in a variety of electrode sensing applications involving registering neural activity, and for electrode stimulation applications, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and method of suppressing stimulation artifacts when performing electrophysiological electrical stimulation and recording. An artifact waveform is captured associated with a stimulus output, and then the artifact waveform calibrated during another stimulus output for accurately representing the actual artifact waveform received within each measured response to a stimulus. During actual stimulus generation and response recording, the calibrated artifact waveform is subtracted in at least one of the amplifier stages so that the artifacts are removed from the amplified response to the stimulus thus providing an accurate output without saturating the amplifiers.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal stimulation apparatus and methods with an electronic controller and a flexible and stretchable electrode array with a central branch and orthogonal bilateral branches that wrap around a section of the gastrointestinal tract and can accommodate repetitive contraction and relaxation movements of the tract. Array branches have a flexible spring structure, stimulation electrodes, recording electrodes, sensors controlled by a controller and adhesion nodes that fix the branches to the tissue. The electrode array can sense the normal peristalsis from upstream tissue and produce a stimulus signal to stimulate the incapable intestine section to generate stimulation-induced contractions. Electrodes on the incapable intestine section can be used for stimulation or recording, the recorded signal from the incapable intestine section can be sent back to the electronics to form a closed loop control system.

Abstract: In certain embodiments an electrode array for epidural stimulation of the spinal cord is provided where the array comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed on a flexible polymer substrate; said electrodes being electrically connected to one or more lead wires and/or connection points on an electrical connector; where the electrodes of said array are bonded to said polymer so that the electrodes can carry an electrical stimulation signal having a voltage, frequency, and current sufficient to provide epidural stimulation of a spinal cord and/or brain in vivo or in a physiological saline solution, without separation of all or a part of an electrode from the polymer substrate.

Abstract: In certain embodiments an electrode array for epidural stimulation of the spinal cord is provided where the array comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed on a flexible polymer substrate; said electrodes being electrically connected to one or more lead wires and/or connection points on an electrical connector; where the electrodes of said array are bonded to said polymer so that the electrodes can carry an electrical stimulation signal having a voltage, frequency, and current sufficient to provide epidural stimulation of a spinal cord and/or brain in vivo or in a physiological saline solution, without separation of all or a part of an electrode from the polymer substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrical charge balancing when generating a stimulus during functional neural stimulation is presented. A stimulus pulse is generated (cathodic or anodic), and after a selected delay a charge compensating pulse is generated of an opposite polarity. The electrode circuit discontinuously examines electrode voltage after termination of the stimulus pulse, and utilizes this voltage to determine how long to extend the width of the charge compensating pulse. The electrode circuit thus performs accurate electrical charge cancellation to remove residual charges from the electrode by precisely controlling pulse width for an opposing polarity compensating pulse that need not have the same current level as the stimulus pulse.

Abstract: Epileptogenic source localization methods and systems based on ECoG signals are provided for obtaining spatial and temporal relationships among epileptogenic zones. Seizure detection is based on an Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and temporal and spatial relationships among the detected epileptogenic zones are based on a steepest descent-based source localization method. Embodiments of the invention facilitate the epileptiform activity investigation and seizure dynamics study and further benefit the neurophysiology community in the surgical decision making of neurosurgeons.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for estimating bio-impedance at electrode-electrolyte interface by injecting a single low-intensity bi-phasic current stimulus having an selected inter-pulse delay first and second current pulse phases, which involves acquiring transient electrode voltage along the bi-phasic current stimulus waveform. Determining equivalent circuit parameters of an electrode, at the electrode-electrolyte/tissue interface, based on transient electrode voltage across said multiple temporal locations is also performed.

Abstract: A neuron recording system was provided. By using the gain-boosted topology, the amplifier input impedance can be increased while simultaneously reducing the noise. The system can be configured to record local field potentials (LFPs) and neuron spikes, respectively, with low-power consumption. With the flexible digital controller module (DCM), any subset of the recording channels can be activated for recording with independent sampling rate at each channel. A wireless interface to transmit recorded neuron data and an on-chip neuron processor to perform real-time signal processing can be incorporated in the system.

Abstract: A wireless wearable high data throughput (big data) brain machine interface apparatus is presented. An implanted recording and transmitting module collects neural data from a plurality of implanted electrodes and wirelessly transmits this over a short distance to a wearable (not implanted) receiving and forwarding module, which communicates the data over a wired communication to a mobile post processing device. The post processing device can send this neural data to an external display or computer enabled device for viewing and/or manipulation. High data throughput is supported by aggregating multiple groups of electrodes by multiple n-channel recording elements, which are multiplexed and then modulated into high frequency wireless communications to the wearable module. Embodiments include use of multiple radiators (multiple polarizations and/or spatially distributed), with beam alignment adjustment.