Micro-invasive probes for monitoring electrical and chemical neural activity in nonhuman primates

We leveraged carbon fiber materials for creating sensors that provide dual neurochemical and electrical neural activity recording at micro-invasive (10 µm) spatial footprints proximal to recording sites, and enabling these measurements from deep brain targets of primates with conventional cranial chambers. These shaft-assisted micro-invasive probes (s-µIPs) are approximately 10 µm in diameter along the distal length (1 – 15 mm) immediately surrounding the targeted recording site. This micro-invasive portion ensures that the recording site is isolated from tissue damage induced by the wider shaft portion of the device. The shaft (150 – 165 µm in diameter) within the device stiffens the remaining length of the probe (> 100 mm), and provides compatibility with standard intracranial insertion protocols (e.g., guide tubes and chamber setups) that require a sufficiently rigid and long shaft for deep brain insertion in monkeys. The s-µIP was further expanded to provide dual-channel chemical and electrical neural activity recording with micrometer spatial resolution. Measurements of reward- and movement-related dopamine, spikes, and local field potentials were made from single and dual-channel s-µIPs implanted in task-performing monkeys. Recordings from chronically implanted s-µIPs display the capability of functional multi-modal (chemical and electrical) neural activity measurements over 1-year post-implantation from micro-invasive devices.