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A new device based on gallium nitride grown on Qromis’s QST substrate has been designed to offer neurosurgeons crucial intraoperative data for improved decision-making. The advanced thin film combines an electrode grid with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to show and track brain activity in real time during surgery. This is very important for making sure that brain defects like tumors and epileptic tissue are removed safely.
The device was designed and built by engineers and doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of California, San Diego. The group was led by Shadi Dayeh, who is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC San Diego and also the corresponding author of the study. The group’s findings are detailed in the April edition of the Science Translational Medicine Journal.
The flexible microdisplay
Intraoperative brain mapping remains a critical challenge in neurosurgery. Current techniques, often involving separate teams and equipment, limit the real-time visualization of functional brain areas. This necessitates the use of large resection margins, potentially sacrificing healthy tissue and compromising patient outcomes.
This study presents a novel microdisplay designed to address these limitations. The device consists of a thin film containing a platinum nanorod electrode grid (PtNRGrid) for high-resolution neural activity recording, coupled with an array of GaN LEDs for real-time visualization.
The microdisplay offers several key advantages over existing methods:
- Enhanced precision: The real-time visualization of neural activity allows for more precise targeting of surgical interventions, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
- Detailed functional mapping: The high-resolution recording capabilities of the PtNRGrid enable surgeons to distinguish between critical and non-critical brain regions, potentially reducing the need for large resection margins.
- Epilepsy management: The device can not only track ongoing activity but also identify the onset and propagation of epileptic seizures, facilitating targeted intervention strategies.
Potential benefits
The microdisplay holds significant promise for improving patient outcomes in various brain surgeries:
- Reduced surgical risks: Improved mapping accuracy minimizes the risk of damaging healthy tissue, leading to potentially faster recovery times and fewer complications.
- Improved surgical outcomes: By providing a clearer picture of the brain’s function, the microdisplay can potentially lead to more successful surgeries and a higher quality of life for patients.
- Advanced epilepsy treatment: The ability to pinpoint the source of seizures can lead to more effective treatment options, potentially achieving seizure control.
Technical advancements
The development of the microdisplay signifies a substantial advancement in technology. It incorporates GaN LEDs, known for their exceptional brightness and efficiency, reducing heat generation and potential tissue damage compared with traditional options. The device also features PtNRGrid technology, enabling high-resolution neural activity recording. Its flexible design allows it to conform to the brain’s convoluted surface, making it versatile for various surgical applications. This combination of innovations promises significant benefits in medical technology.
Dayeh and his team pioneered a technique using GaN to create high-efficiency LEDs that remain cool and safe for brain tissue. They grow this material on a flat Qromis substrate, allowing them to embed LEDs into flexible films for a bendable display panel. Quantum dot inks are then applied using inkjet printing to convert LED blue light into various colors, aiding in richer neural activity visualization.
In an interview with Power Electronics News, Vlad Odnoblyudov, CTO and co-founder of Qromis, highlighted the importance of this technology.
“As QROMIS, we are very pleased to contribute to the groundbreaking intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) microdisplay technology with our high performance, lighting-grade and scalable GaN-on-QST® LED epitaxy wafers with indium gallium nitride (InGaN) quantum wells which served as the foundation of low-cost μLED arrays fabrication on such wafers. We have been working very closely with Prof. Shadi Dayeh and his team at UC San Diego in this breakthrough technology. We strongly believe that the iEEG microdisplay has the potential to improve brain activity mapping for basic neuroscience as well as neurosurgical practices,” said Odnoblyudov.
He added, “the successful results in this cutting-edge study once again validate (1) the performance scale, (2) application scale and (3) economies of scale enablement for GaN-based power/RF electronics, μLEDs/advanced displays and other emerging applications on CMOS fab-friendly, low cost and scalable QST® substrate manufacturing platform, i.e. unlocking the full potential of GaN by QST®. As we are fully aligned with Prof. Dayeh, this is not the first time nor would it be the last one that we will do groundbreaking work together with the UC San Diego team, as well as with our other industry / academia partners on QST® platform.”
These GaN-based microLEDs are brighter and more power-efficient than organic LEDs, with exceptional visibility even under intense surgical lighting. The microdisplays, as thin as tens of microns, capture brain activity at high speeds across numerous channels and visualize it in real time during surgeries. The device, containing up to 2,048 LEDs, includes acquisition electronics and software for analyzing brain activity directly from its surface.
Future direction
Research is ongoing to further enhance the microdisplay’s capabilities:
- Higher-resolution displays: The development of microdisplays with increased LED density is underway, offering even finer-grained brain mapping.
- Foldable design: The creation of a foldable microdisplay is being explored, allowing surgeons to operate on one area while monitoring another.
- Minimal electrical interference: The research team is addressing a minor issue of electrical interference between the LEDs and recording electrodes.
The flexible microdisplay is a revolutionary tool for brain surgery. By offering real-time visualization of neural activity, the device has the potential to significantly improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. Further research and development hold promise for even greater advancements in this transformative technology.
The post GaN Microdisplay Revolutionizes Neurosurgery appeared first on Power Electronics News.
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