A flexible method for fabrication of nerve cuff electrodes

A method for construction of cuff electrodes is presented. The method is based on using platinum foil electrodes fixed by rubber bands on a Teflon coated mandrel, that is then dip-coated with silicone. The method allows for design of cuff electrodes of practically any size, shape and electrode configuration, and simple cuffs can be built in less than one hour of work Cuff electrodes have been built that range in size from 0.5 to 10 mm ID and 5 to 70 mm length and number of electrodes from one to twelve. Tri-polar recording electrodes have been tested in more than 30 chronic implantations in rabbits (tibial nerve) and for various acute experiments, where different electrode configurations were investigated. None of the chronic implants have failed and impedances have been stable for one year.