Foreign Body Reaction: Device Integrity and Material Considerations

This lecture delves into the impact of foreign body reactions on implant integrity over time, exploring the effects on devices within the biological environment, such as corrosion, mechanical failures, and encapsulation. The instructor discusses the importance of material selection and interfaces in neural implants, highlighting the challenges posed by the aggressive biological environment. Various studies on the Utah Array implants are presented, showcasing the degradation and damage observed post-implantation. The lecture also covers the mechanical aspects of anchoring implants, including the use of flexible tethers and miniaturized implants. The goal is to understand and mitigate the chronic phase of foreign body reactions to ensure the long-term functionality of neural interfaces.