Numerical simulation of neural probe's insertion process into brain tissue

Abstract

During the process that neural probes are implanted, the insertion will cause acute injury of brain tissue and then trigger reactive responses, which may lead to degradation of the recording signals. In this paper, the process of neural probe's insertion into brain was simulated by developing a nonlinear finite element model. An element deletion method based on maximum shear stress criterion was utilized as the failure mechanism of brain tissue. It was found that as the wedge angle of the probe increases, the injury of brain tissue becomes larger. Besides, faster insertion speed leads to less tissue injury. The probe stiffness, however, gives a negligible effect on tissue injury. The results are helpful to minimize the insertion trauma based on optimal design of insertion parameters and neural probe physical characteristics.