# Soft Silicone Electrode Nets: implantable technology for visceral organ neural interfacing and functional evaluation

> **NIH NIH OT2** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $500,614

## Abstract

Visceral organs present unique challenges to studying functional physiology and neural control. Visceral organs
are often surrounded by a nerve plexus that provides distributed innervation along the organ surface and contain
autonomic ganglia that can modulate function locally. Given this complexity, creating functional maps of visceral
organ innervation is challenging. Another challenge is measuring organ state itself. This is significantly
exacerbated by the fact that many of these organs are soft, elastic, and undergo large volume changes.
In this proposal, we will develop soft silicone electrode nets compatible with these unique challenges and that
can envelop visceral organs and deploy high-resolution electrodes to arbitrary positions on the organ surface.
This approach is based on a 3D printed silicone electrode technology. These electrode nets will be augmented
with strain gauge sensors and electrical impedance tomography electrodes to monitor physiological organ state.
Ultimately, this new class of devices will 1) be intrinsically soft and elastic to allow conformation with visceral
organs that undergo large volume changes, 2) integrate organ state sensors based on strain gauges and
electrical impedance tomography, 3) prevent delamination issues typically associated with other thin film
electrode manufacturing processes, and 4) allow rapid customization to cost-effectively transition to any organ
system in animals or humans. This technology is based on materials that have a history of use in biomedical
implants and are therefore potentially suitable for conducting neural mapping and electrophysiological studies of
human organs in vivo.
We will evaluate device performance using the bladder and urethra as a model due to the challenging interface
requirements (e.g. large volume changes) and potential clinical relevance. Overactive bladder and urinary
incontinence affects millions of people worldwide, is associated with costs upwards of $60 billion each year in
the United States, and leads to significant decreases in quality of life. Electrode nets will be tested in acute cat
experiments where we will determine the electrode-tissue mechanical stability, evaluate embedded sensor
performance, and develop functional neural maps of the surface of the bladder and urethra. We will also validate
device performance in a series of chronic animal experiments where device performance will be monitored for
up to four months post-implant. An important feature of this enabling technology and associated manufacturing
process is that these devices will be able to be quickly and cost-effectively redesigned to study other visceral
organ systems including the stomach, intestines, and colon across a range of animal models as well as humans.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246110
- **Project number:** 3OT2OD025297-01S3
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert A Gaunt
- **Activity code:** OT2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $500,614
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246110

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246110, Soft Silicone Electrode Nets: implantable technology for visceral organ neural interfacing and functional evaluation (3OT2OD025297-01S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246110. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*