Chinese Academy of Sciences Develops Flexible Electrode Implant Robot CyberSense

The China Academy of Sciences (CAS) has successfully developed a flexible microelectrode implantation robot called CyberSense. This device recently passed the preliminary acceptance test at the "Brain Decoding and Brain Simulation" major scientific infrastructure in Shenzhen, marking a significant milestone in brain-computer interface (BCI) research. CyberSense is designed to automate the precise insertion of ultra-thin and ultra-soft microelectrodes into the cerebral cortex of experimental animals. These electrodes are finer and softer than a human hair, making them less invasive and better tolerated by neural tissue. The robot's key features include high automation, the ability to implant multiple electrodes, accurate spatial positioning, high time efficiency, and user-friendly operation. Additionally, it can navigate around blood vessels, reducing the risk of damage and improving the success rate of implantation. Dubbed a "sewing machine"-style implantation robot by both domestic and international researchers, CyberSense operates with micrometer-level precision. It can insert multiple electrodes, each with a thickness of ≤10 micrometers and a width of ≤100 micrometers, into the brain cortex. The process involves a rigid needle shuttling up and down to manipulate the flexible microelectrodes, akin to the mechanism of a sewing machine. This precision allows the electrodes to directly contact neurons within the brain, enabling the collection of high-fidelity neural signals. Once implanted, these flexible microelectrodes transmit the captured neural signals to a microchip. The microchip processes and communicates these signals, allowing researchers to decode the brain's information processing and control external devices. Alternatively, the electrodes can deliver microcurrents to stimulate nearby neurons, thus modulating brain activity. CyberSense has already been instrumental in supporting various flexible microelectrode projects at the Institute of Semiconductors of CAS and other research organizations. This has advanced studies in BCI and neurophysiology, where the collection of large, high-quality neural datasets is crucial. Implantable BCIs are a highly interdisciplinary field, encompassing expertise in electrodes, chips, implantation, communication, neurosurgery, artificial intelligence, and neural decoding. Advances in materials science and micro-nano manufacturing have led to the development of smaller and softer electrodes, which minimize tissue damage and immune responses. However, these advancements have also increased the complexity of the implantation process, far surpassing the capabilities of human hands and eyes. Consequently, automated implantation robots like CyberSense have become indispensable tools in BCI research. BCIs have the potential to revolutionize the lives of people with disabilities by providing high-performance mind-controlled devices, synthetic speech, and visual reconstruction. They also aid scientists in studying the brain's operational principles using high-throughput neural signals. The primary challenges in BCI technology include safely collecting large volumes of high-quality neural data while minimizing the risks associated with implantation. We are now in the era of flexible electrodes, which come in various forms, such as thin films that adhere to the brain's surface and electrode arrays inserted through blood vessels. Each type has its advantages, but micro-wire flexible electrodes stand out because they can penetrate the brain cortex and make direct contact with neurons, ensuring the highest resolution of neural spike data. In summary, the successful development of CyberSense represents a major step forward in the field of BCIs. By automating the precise and safe implantation of flexible microelectrodes, it enhances the reliability and scalability of neural data collection, paving the way for groundbreaking advances in both medical applications and fundamental neuroscience research.