Magnetic-Thrust Flexible Electrode with Integrated Preamplifier for Neural Recording

Flexible electrodes for use in recording neural activity were fabricated in this study, and their use was demonstrated. By using the mechanical force generated by a magnetic field, an electrode can be inserted into a tissue, and the position of the electrode can be controlled. The position and insertion path of the electrode can be controlled accurately with a high degree of freedom. No stiffener materials are required for the insertion process. A headstage amplifier, which is indispensable for low-noise recording, was hybrid-integrated with a flexible electrode. A miniaturized main amplifier that served as a second-stage amplifier was also fabricated. The magnetic controllability of the fabricated electrode was demonstrated using a phantom of a tissue. An in vivo experiment was also performed for the functional validation of the recording function. Local field potentials were recorded successfully as a result of the experiment.