Project Description:

Roughly 20% of the world population struggle with musculoskeletal disorders. Typical treatments often target side effects, rather than targeting the atrophied or atypical muscular tissue.

This project proposes an electrode called “NeuroFilm” that aims to aid in muscle repair and reinnervation, as well as monitoring. These electrodes are made of sodium alginate (SA), poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), and glutaraldehyde (GA).

These conductive films are highly fibrous in an isotropic manner. The average diameter of these fibers is around 28 μm. Before the addition of GA, the electrospinning solution shows behavior consistent with the liquid phase, but following the addition of GA, an increase in viscous behavior occurs. The electrochemical properties of this film are comparable to those of a semiconductor.

Both subcutaneous and epimysial implantation levels will be tested, with the expectation that epimysial will outperform due to its direct interface with the muscle in question.

Project Photo:

A novel electrode which can stimulate muscle fibers and collect EMG signals.