Chinese Academy of Sciences Develops Flexible Micro-Electrode Implant Robot CyberSense

On April 18, the Brain Atlas and Brain Intelligence Laboratory (BABI) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Automation successfully pre-validated its self-developed flexible microelectrode implantation robot, CyberSense. This innovative machine, resembling a sewing machine in its operation, can implant ultra-thin and ultra-flexible microelectrodes into the brain cortex of experimental animals, significantly advancing brain-computer interface (BCI) and neuroscience research. CyberSense is equipped with intelligent perception systems and possesses multiple patents, enabling it to handle various types of flexible microelectrodes. The robot can implant electrodes as thin as 10 micrometers and as wide as 100 micrometers, ensuring precise placement within the brain's cortical layers while avoiding major blood vessels. The implantation process involves a rigid needle that shuttles up and down, manipulating the flexible microelectrode in a manner similar to how a sewing machine operates. Once implanted, these microelectrodes transmit neural signals to a miniature chip, which then processes and decodes the information, facilitating both the understanding of brain activity and the control of external devices. Additionally, the electrodes can stimulate nearby neurons using microcurrents, allowing researchers to modulate brain functions. The success of CyberSense has been pivotal in supporting the development and application of various flexible microelectrodes by institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Semiconductors and Weiling Brain-Machine Interface. Dr. Xiaojian Li, a senior engineer at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology and founder of Weiling Medical, emphasized that the field is transitioning from rigid electrodes to flexible ones. Flexible electrodes come in different forms, including surface-mounted film electrodes and intravenous stent electrodes, each with unique advantages. However, microthread-like flexible electrodes stand out because they directly contact neurons after being inserted into the cortex, enabling high-resolution neural signal recording. Despite their benefits, the extreme thinness and flexibility of these electrodes—widths comparable to human hair and thicknesses only about one-tenth of a hair strand—make them challenging to observe and handle. The low Young's modulus of the materials used further complicates these tasks. Careful planning is essential to select optimal implantation points and avoid damaging brain vasculature. Implanting a single flexible microelectrode yields limited neural data, but multi-electrode implantation can cover a broader range of neurons, enhancing the richness of the collected signals and the overall performance of BCIs. Dr. Fangbo Qin, deputy researcher and project leader at BABI, highlighted the key strengths of CyberSense, which include high automation, the ability to implant multiple electrodes simultaneously, precise spatial positioning, and efficient time management. These features make the robot highly user-friendly and effective in improving both the success rate and quality of electrode implantation. The development of CyberSense is a testament to the multidisciplinary expertise of the BABI team, with contributions from researchers such as Dr. Dapeng Zhang, Engineer Xinyong Han, and Dr. Ping Zhu. The transition to flexible microelectrodes is a significant advancement in BCI technology, driven by progress in materials science and micro-nanofabrication techniques. These advancements have made electrodes smaller and more flexible, reducing implantation trauma and immune responses. However, the increased difficulty in implantation necessitates the use of highly automated robots like CyberSense. The rigid needle mechanism of CyberSense ensures that the flexible microelectrodes, despite their delicate nature, can be accurately and safely placed within the brain. In the future, the BCI and Fusion Intelligence team at BABI plans to develop a series of flexible electrode implantation robots, further contributing to the advancement of BCI and brain science in China. This ongoing effort underscores the collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary approach that characterized the successful development of CyberSense, with crucial support from Dr. Weihua Pei's team at the Institute of Semiconductors. Their combined expertise will continue to drive innovation in this rapidly evolving field, paving the way for groundbreaking applications in prosthetics, communication, and brain function studies.