Extended Data Fig. 2: Stepwise implantation of tissue-level flexible mesh electronics by the integrated polymer shuttle.
From: Tracking neural activity from the same cells during the entire adult life of mice
a, Schematics showing the stepwise implantation process. The polymer shuttle integrated with mesh electronics was inserted by manipulator#1. Then, manipulator#2 was used to extract the polymer shuttle. b, Photograph of the freestanding integrated device with the polymer shuttle integrated with mesh electronics, ready for implantation. c-f, Photographs showing the stepwise implantation process. c, The manipulator#1 was manually controlled to insert the integrated device into the targeted region of the mouse brain. The three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the device were measured during insertion to control the implantation depth and speed. d, After the device reached the target position, a small drop of glue was gently placed on the polymer shuttle. e, A customized plastic pole mounted on manipulator#2, which was connected with the stereotaxic frame, was manually controlled to approach the glue. After the glue was completely cured and the PEG layer between the mesh electronics and polymer shuttle was dissolved, sterile saline solution was applied to further dissolve the dextran layer that bonded the polymer shuttle with the silicon chip at the input/output (I/O) region of the mesh electronics. f, The polymer shuttle was then carefully retracted from the brain tissue using manipulator#2, leaving the ultra-flexible mesh electronics in the implantation sites. g-h, Yield of insertion (g) and extraction (h) of 16-channel and 32-channel mesh electronics with different speeds (P > 0.05 for all comparisons. NS, not significant, two-tailed t test, n = 3 independent researchers, each researcher with 5 insertion/extractions. Data represented as mean ± s.d.).
