Gutruf Authors Brain Implant Study

BME assistant professor and Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow Philipp Gutruf is the senior author of a new study detailing a wireless brain implant that can monitor animals' dopamine signals in real time. This battery-free device may lead to better understanding of neurological disorders and brain functions. 

The study explains that the high sensitivity of the probe combined with a center tapped antenna design enables the realization of miniaturized, low power circuits suitable for subdermal implantation in animals as small as mice.

"Neurochemical composition in the brain is an area that, because of the current limitation of research tools, is not as well understood as electrical activity," Gutruf said in an interview with Northwestern University. "However, neurochemical composition is indicated to be very important in the treatment and detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Advances introduced by our work will help the neuroscience community to understand fundamental mechanisms and validate new therapy candidates."