Technologies
This technology is an organic electrochemical transistor for safe and efficient real-time measurement and manipulation of electrophysiological signals in biological environments.
Bioelectronic devices are becoming increasingly important in medicine and biological research, but the inorganic transistors used in these devices are poorly biocompatible and not safe for chronic use. Transistors composed of organic materials have been developed, but they are inefficient and often too slow to enable measurement of physiological signals in vivo. These transistors also require bulky encapsulation because of impaired operation when exposed to water or other liquids.
This technology is a high-speed internal-ion gated electrochemical transistor (IGT) that is completely biocompatible. Making use of mobile ions contained within a conducting polymer channel, the IGT displays high transconductance for faster and more sensitive measurements. The IGTs are made of organic materials safe for chronic in vivo use and are designed to be scalable and conformable to a wide variety of bioelectronics applications, including electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocorticography (ECOG). Unlike current EEG electrodes, the IGT can amplify human brain neurophysiological activity without the use of a chemical adhesive and can be microfabricated to fit between hair follicles.
IR 19129
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu