Brain-Computer Interfaces: Silicon Technologies

This lecture delves into the design and manufacture of electrodes and systems for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), focusing on non-conventional clinical devices. The instructor discusses the development of BCIs primarily for research and startup applications, emphasizing the use of silicon-based technologies and flexible materials. Various electrode types, such as EEG electrodes, cortical arrays, and NeuroPixel Pro electrodes, are explored in terms of their applications and fabrication processes. The lecture also covers key fabrication techniques like photolithography and metallization, highlighting the challenges and considerations involved in creating neural interfaces. The importance of clean room environments, spin coating, and photolithography in the microfabrication process is emphasized, along with the significance of material properties like stiffness and brittleness in silicon-based neurotechnologies.