According to a research published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, a new type of flexible electrode has been developed by a team from Lund University in Sweden. The problem with electrodes being used currently for brain monitoring is that they are made from solid materials and even if flexible, they still contain solid chips that make them stiff at some places.

Such devices when inserted into the brain can rub against the super soft tissues of the brain and gradually damage them. In such a scenario, long term monitoring is not possible using such devices.

Taking into account all these points, the University team developed the electrode which is made from gold and measures just 10 microns in thickness. These electrodes are laser cut to shape and then insulated using a polymer called parylene C. To make it stiff enough to insert into the brain, the whole thing is coated in gelatine. Once it reaches its designated place, the layer dissolves itself without harming the brain and leaves the miniscule electrode in place.

The team expressed: “the new electrodecreates entirely new conditions for our understanding of what happens inside the brain and for the development of more effective treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain conditions than can be achieved using today’s techniques.”

Brain is a complicated mesh of nerves and whatever helps us to understand it better is embraced happily by the science community.

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Author:Technology Blog