A Minimally Invasive, Suturable Platform for Brain Monitoring

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Abstract

Capturing infrequent or context-dependent brain events, such as epileptic seizures and sleep abnormalities, often requires continuous monitoring over several days. It is most practical and scalable when achieved with unobtrusive, high-fidelity wireless systems that patients can use at home. Current electroencephalography systems restrict patient mobility and require continuous electrode maintenance and sub-scalp solutions require surgical implantation that offer limited spatial coverage. We developed NeuroWeaves, gold–polyimide microthreads thinner than a human hair that can be stitched through the epidermis using standard suture tools and connected to a lightweight wireless recorder. In preclinical models, NeuroWeaves captured whisker-evoked potentials with accuracy comparable to skull screws and matched the performance of a commercial acquisition benchmark. Semi-chronic recordings in freely moving animals remained stable for several weeks, and 30-day histology showed minimal inflammation comparable to surgical sutures. Pilot human studies reproduced posterior-dominant rhythms, photic responses, chewing artifacts, and sleep oscillations comparable to clinical electrodes. These results establish a minimally invasive, biocompatible neural interface that represents a new modality for high-fidelity brain monitoring beyond conventional laboratory and clinical constraints.

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