From an article written by AZoNano:

Researchers from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Information Engineering and the Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute (EIIRIS) at Toyohashi University of Technology have developed needle-electrodes with a diameter of 5 µm on block modules with the dimensions 1 mm x 1 mm.

The tiny needles could help to solve the mysteries of the brain and can open the door to develop a brain-machine interface. On 25 October 2016, the outcomes of the research were published in Scientific Reports.

As the human brain has highly complex neuron networks, needle-electrode devices made of microfabricated silicon were anticipated to be a breakthrough in enabling the recording and analysis of electrical activities of microscale neuronal circuits that occur in the brain.

However, techniques of developing smaller needles, for example, needles with diameter < 10 µm, can play a vital role in minimizing brain tissue damage.

 

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Image Credit:    © Toyohashi University Of Technology

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