A skin-inspired organic digital mechanoreceptor

Human skin relies on cutaneous receptors that output digital signals for tactile sensing in which the intensity of stimulation is converted to a series of voltage pulses. We present a power-efficient skin-inspired mechanoreceptor with a flexible organic transistor circuit that transduces pressure in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2015-10, Vol.350 (6258), p.313-316
Main Authors: Tee, Benjamin C.-K., Chortos, Alex, Berndt, Andre, Nguyen, Amanda Kim, Tom, Ariane, McGuire, Allister, Lin, Ziliang Carter, Tien, Kevin, Bae, Won-Gyu, Wang, Huiliang, Mei, Ping, Chou, Ho-Hsiu, Cui, Bianxiao, Deisseroth, Karl, Ng, Tse Nga, Bao, Zhenan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Arrays
Cerebral Cortex - cytology
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Detection
Digital
Electronics
Feedback
Feedback (Response)
Hand - anatomy & histology
Hand - innervation
Hand - physiology
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Mechanoreceptors
Mice
Mouse devices
Neural Prostheses
Optogenetics
Pressure
Prostheses
Sensors
Sensory perception
Skin
Skin - innervation
Touch
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - methods
Transistors, Electronic
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Description
Summary:Human skin relies on cutaneous receptors that output digital signals for tactile sensing in which the intensity of stimulation is converted to a series of voltage pulses. We present a power-efficient skin-inspired mechanoreceptor with a flexible organic transistor circuit that transduces pressure into digital frequency signals directly. The output frequency ranges between 0 and 200 hertz, with a sublinear response to increasing force stimuli that mimics slow-adapting skin mechanoreceptors. The output of the sensors was further used to stimulate optogenetically engineered mouse somatosensory neurons of mouse cortex in vitro, achieving stimulated pulses in accordance with pressure levels. This work represents a step toward the design and use of large-area organic electronic skins with neural-integrated touch feedback for replacement limbs.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aaa9306