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Development and Translation of novel SiC encapsulation thin film for chronic auditory nerve implant electrodes

Award Number: R44DC018261
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/10/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2023

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Development and Translation of novel SiC encapsulation thin film for chronic auditory nerve implant electrodes - Abstract A range of neurological diseases are now being researched or treated using fully implantable electronic systems to either record or modulate brain activity in humans. These implants are currently being protected using polymer coatings that envelop the implant and help keep body fluids away from the sensitive electronics. Brain implants with complex three-dimensional geometries, like the Utah Electrode Array (UEA) provide a challenge for current encapsulation techniques. Parylene has been the gold standard for encapsulation of neural and biomedical implants in general due to its well-suited combination of biocompatibility, electrical properties and chemical inertness. However recording capabilities of long-term neural implants (>6 months) encapsulated with Parylene show signs of degradation. To address this problem, we propose to develop and evaluate performance and biocompatibility/safety of a new Silicon Carbide (SiC) based encapsulation designed to extend the long term stability and implantable lifetime for a high density Utah Slant Electrode Array (HD-USEA) in line with lifetime expectations for conventional cochlea implant electrodes. The HD-USEA is used as penetrating auditory nerve electrode in a new type of intracranial auditory prosthesis that targets the auditory nerve en route to the brainstem in order to substantially improve hearing performance over the current standard of care, the cochlear implant (CI) (NIH 1UG3NS107688-01). SiC has been studied in the past as encapsulation and electrode material due to its outstanding inherent material properties. This encapsulation layer, novel to biomedical field, will retain all the advantages of Parylene while utilizing vastly superior dielectric properties of silicon carbide layer to create a much longer lasting and more electrically stable biomedical implants. This layer encapsulation scheme may be seamlessly incorporated into our existing fabrication process flow for our flagship product, the UEA. This encapsulation will work on different surfaces (metal, semiconductor, polymer, ceramic) and on devices with integrated wireless components making it ideal for coating any complex medical device intended for long term implant. Our preliminary results with silicon carbide coated UEA are very promising in support of the proposed work. We have shown that silicon carbide yields more stable leakage current, and stable impedance (with <5% change). This superior performance of suggests its potential usefulness for chronic implants with complex surface geometries.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2021	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, INC	630 S KOMAS DR	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$20 )
2023	2019	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, INC	630 S KOMAS DR	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	11/21/2022	NEW	-$20
														Subtotal = -$20

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $20 )
2022	2021	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, LLC	630 S KOMAS DR STE 200	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	8/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2022	2019	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, INC	630 S KOMAS DR	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	7/13/2022	NEW	$20
														Subtotal = $20

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $748,540 )
2021	2021	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, LLC	630 S KOMAS DR STE 200	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	8/11/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$748,540
														Subtotal = $748,540

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $749,625 )
2020	2020	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, LLC	630 S KOMAS DR STE 200	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	7/31/2020	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$749,625
														Subtotal = $749,625

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $222,490 )
2019	2019	BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS, LLC	630 S KOMAS DR STE 200	SALT LAKE CITY	UT	84108	SALT LAKE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	8/6/2019	NEW	$222,490
														Subtotal = $222,490

Grand Total All Awards = $1,720,655

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Development and Translation of novel SiC encapsulation thin film for chronic auditory nerve implant electrodes

Award Number: R44DC018261

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/10/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2023

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