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Flexible electronics for interfacing with the brain
G. Malliaras
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne., FR
Keywords: flexible electronics, brain
Summary:
One of the most important scientific and technological frontiers of our times lies at the interface between electronics and the human brain. Interfacing the most advanced human engineering endeavor with nature’s most refined creation promises to help elucidate aspects of the brain’s working mechanism and deliver new tools for diagnosis and treatment of a host of pathologies including epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. It also represents a unique opportunity for industry: Medical electronics is the fastest-growing segment of the semiconductor industry. The field of organic electronics made available devices with a unique combination of attractive properties, including mechanical flexibility, mixed ionic/electronic conduction, enhanced biocompatibility, and capability for drug delivery. I will present examples of flexible devices for recording and stimulation of brain activity and discuss how they can improve our understanding of brain physiology and pathology, and how they can be used to deliver new therapies.
