Automated Multiplexed Potentiostat System (AMPS) for High-Throughput Characterization of Neural Interfaces.

Neural interfaces with increasing channel counts require a scalable means of testing. While multiplexed potentiostats have long been the solution to this problem, most have been dedicated to one specific probe design or potentiostat, limited in the electrochemical techniques available, inordinately expensive, or they support multiplexing of too few channels. We present the design of an automated multiplexed potentiostat system that addresses these limitations-it is easily generalizable to any probe and potentiostat, supports any electrochemical technique available with the potentiostat, is low-cost, and can readily be expanded to hundreds of channels with support for multiple simultaneous potentiostats.

Quantitative Fit Evaluation of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and Coronavirus Inactivation Following Heat Treatment.

Reuse of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs, commonly referred to as N95s) normally meant for single use has become common in healthcare facilities due to shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report that murine hepatitis coronavirus initially seeded on FFR filter material is inactivated (6 order of magnitude reduction as measured by median tissue culture infective dose, TCID50) after dry heating at 75°C for 30 min. We also find that the quantitative fit of FFRs after heat treatment at this temperature, under dry conditions or at 90% relative humidity, is not affected by single or 10 heating cycles.

MEMS-Actuated Carbon Fiber Microelectrode for Neural Recording.

Microwire and microelectrode arrays used for cortical neural recording typically consist of tens to hundreds of recording sites, but often only a fraction of these sites are in close enough proximity to firing neurons to record single-unit activity. Recent work has demonstrated precise, depth-controllable mechanisms for the insertion of single neural recording electrodes, but these methods are mostly only capable of inserting electrodes which elicit an adverse biological response. We present an electrostatic-based actuator capable of inserting individual carbon fiber microelectrodes which elicit minimal to no adverse biological response.

An Actuated Neural Probe Architecture for Reducing Gliosis-Induced Recording Degradation.

Glial encapsulation of chronically implanted neural probes inhibits recording and stimulation, and this signal loss is a significant factor limiting the clinical viability of most neural implant topologies for decades-long implantation. We demonstrate a mechanical proof of concept for silicon shank-style neural probes intended to minimize gliosis near the recording sites. Compliant whiskers on the edges of the probe fold inward to minimize tissue damage during insertion.

A high-density carbon fiber neural recording array technology.

Objective: Microwire and Utah-style neural recording arrays are the predominant devices used for cortical neural recording, but the implanted electrodes cause a significant adverse biological response and suffer from well-studied performance degradation. Recent work has demonstrated that carbon fiber electrodes do not elicit this same adverse response, but these existing designs are not practically scalable to hundreds or thousands of recording sites. We present technology that overcomes these issues while additionally providing fine electrode pitch for spatial oversampling.

Blowfly yaw control via electrical stimulation of the H1 lobula plate tangential cell.

Eliciting predictable flight responses in insects via exogenous stimulation of the nervous system is an area of both scientific and engineering interest. Blowflies in particular possess an excellent biological flight control system, making them an ideal system for characterising responses to stimulation. Here we demonstrate a means of electrically controlling Calliphoridae-Protophormia terranovae wing behaviour, generating a repeatable yaw response via biphasic electrical stimulation of the H1 lobula plate tangential cell (LPTC).

Deciphering the role of a coleopteran steering muscle via free flight stimulation.

Testing hypotheses of neuromuscular function during locomotion ideally requires the ability to record cellular responses and to stimulate the cells being investigated to observe downstream behaviors [1]. The inability to stimulate in free flight has been a long-standing hurdle for insect flight studies. The miniaturization of computation and communication technologies has delivered ultra-small, radio-enabled neuromuscular recorders and stimulators for untethered insects [2-8].

Insect-machine hybrid system.

We demonstrated the remote control of insects in free flight via an implantable radio-equipped miniature neural stimulating system. This paper summarizes these results. The pronotum mounted system consisted of neural stimulators, muscular stimulators, a radio transceiver-equipped microcontroller and a microbattery.