Neuroflex: wireless, mechanically flexible, stimulation-capable depth and surface high-density microelectrode arrays for epilepsy

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded a Cooperative Agreement to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York for $953,287 on September 10, 2025, to develop NEUROFLEX—wireless, mechanically flexible, stimulation-capable depth and surface high-density microelectrode arrays for epilepsy monitoring. The award funds the design and development of intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG) electrode arrays that address limitations in current commercial neural interface technologies used to evaluate patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, specifically reducing tradeoffs between electrode density, broad network sampling capability, and data transmission and power constraints. Current subdural and stereotactic depth electrode arrays require wired connections through the skin to external electronics during multi-day hospital monitoring, are costly to manufacture and customize, cause significant brain tissue reactivity, and have limited electrode counts. Performance of work occurs in New York through May 31, 2029. This award is authorized under Assistance Listing 93.853, Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders, which supports basic research exploring the fundamental structure and function of the brain and nervous system and research to understand and treat neurological disease.

Abstract

Intracranial electrocorticography (ecog) is widely used in the evaluation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Current neural interface technologies suffer from tradeoffs between the density of electrodes, ability to sample from broad networks, and limitations on data transmission and power. Commercial subdural and stereotactic depth electrode arrays used for continuous clinical monitoring require wired connections through the skin to external electronics for days to weeks of in hospital monitoring. These arrays are costly to manufacture or customize, cause significant brain tissue reactivity, and typically have small numbers (