3D NEURO-ELECTRONIC INTERFACE DEVICES FOR NEUROMUSCULAR CONTROL - DESIGN STUDIES AND REALIZATION STEPS

In order to design the shape and dimensions of new 3D multi-microelect rode information transducers properly, i.e. adapted to the scale of in formation delivery to and from peripheral nerve fibres, a number of st udies were, and still are, being performed on modelling and simulation of electrical volume conduction inside and outside nerves, on animal experiments on stimulation and recording with single wires and linear arrays, and on new technologies for 3D micro-fabrication. This paper p resents a selection of the results of these 'Neurotechnology' studies at the University of Twente. The experimental and simulation results a pply primarily to the peripheral motor nerves of the rat, but are also of interest for neural interfacing with myelinated nerves in man, as fascicles in man are about the same size as in the rat.