Sub-Project 3

Indigenous Deep Brain Recording and Stimulation Electrodes

OVERVIEW

India’s ability to deliver advanced neurosurgical interventions is severely constrained by its dependence on expensive imported neurodevices. A single sEEG electrode currently costs between ₹25,000 and ₹60,000, placing epilepsy surgery and deep brain stimulation out of reach for the vast majority of patients. This sub-project develops affordable, high-quality, indigenous microelectrode recording (MER) and sEEG electrodes, validated for both clinical and research use.

WHY EPILEPSY PATIENTS?

Epilepsy patients undergoing pre-surgical monitoring provide a rare and invaluable window into the live human brain at millisecond and millimeter resolution. These individuals have electrodes implanted in cortical and subcortical areas for clinical purposes; with their consent, we conduct cognitive experiments during their monitoring period. Their brain activity during tasks provides direct insights into the neural computations that co-processors need to replicate.

RESEARCH GOALS

Design, fabricate, and validate indigenous MER and sEEG electrodes with performance comparable to international standards

Test electrodes through rigorous biocompatibility (ISO 10993) and preclinical validation in rodent and NHP models

Establish behavioral paradigms and neural decoding algorithms for cognitive rehabilitation in NHPs using these electrodes

Translate validated devices toward first-in-human safety trials

CURRENT STATUS

MER prototypes have been fabricated and successfully tested in rodents. sEEG electrode design has been reverse-engineered and mechanically validated. Rodent electrophysiology and NHP facilities are operational at IIT Kanpur.

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Clean room fabrication facilities for electrode manufacturing
  • Electrochemical characterization workstation (EIS, chronopotentiometry, electroplating)
  • Rodent and NHP surgical and behavioral testing facilities at IIT Kanpur
  • Clinical validation partnership with Jaslok Hospital (Mumbai) and Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (Pune)

CLINICAL PARTNERS

  • Amrita Advanced Centre for Epilepsy (Kochi)
  • MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospitals (Bengaluru)
  • Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute (Thiruvananthapuram)
  • Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (Pune)

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

  • Clinically validated, commercially viable indigenous MER and sEEG electrode systems
  • Neural decoding algorithms for cost-benefit decision-making from anterior cingulate cortex recordings
  • Foundation for closed-loop neuromodulation strategies for post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation