- Ministerium f. Wissenschaft und Kunst, Baden-Württemberg
- Projektträger Jülich Forschungszentrum
The aim of the project is to conduct a feasibility study on endovascular neurostimulation. As an alternative to the conventional surgical implantation of microelectrodes, the project partners see the interventional supply of suitable electrodes, i.e. the supply of electrodes via the vascular system into the target regions. Electrodes placed in the blood vessel can be used to electrically stimulate nerves in the immediate vicinity of vessels.
Endovascular stimulation requires electrodes which can be inserted interventionally, i.e. with access through a peripheral artery, into the target regions. In addition to the required mechanical and electrical properties, they must not interfere with blood flow and must be haemocompatible. Blood vessel stents, as they are known from cardiology, fulfil these properties. In particular, self-expandable stents made of shape memory alloys ensure gentle apposition to the vessel wall.
The aim of the feasibility study is to show that appropriately modified, self-expanding vascular stents are suitable as electrodes for electrical stimulation. The aim is to produce and characterize stent electrodes by analyzing the influence of construction parameters on the strength and expansion of the electric field. Finally, a first functional laboratory sample that can be pushed into a catheter and contacted will be produced.
- Acandis GmbH& Co.KG, Pforzheim
- NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen