Cleanroom-based prototyping of actuators for Peripheral Nerve repair

Peripheral Nerve Injury (PNI) affects approximately 300,000 individuals annually in Europe, and recovery is often incomplete or nonexistent, dependent on the severity of the injury. While established treatments, such as autografting and nerve entubulation, are shown to be limitedly effective, the literature demonstrates that applying under-pressure to the proximal and distal nerve endings of mice enhances nerve recovery. However, the experimental setup used for the treatment is still bulky and transcutaneous.

Assignment

In this MSc Thesis Project, the aim is to fabricate an actuator that is wirelessly actuated and biodegradable, while being fully implantable and not needing an extraction surgery. The main focus is on the key element: the membrane, which will be patterned through cleanroom-based fabrication techniques (photolithography, etching).

Summary:

• CAD design and COMSOL simulation of the actuator
• Mask design
• Cleanroom fabrication
• Material properties characterization

Requirements

Duration: 9 or 12 months.

Where:  ECTM group, EKL cleanroom at the EEMCS   faculty.

Who: 

• Creative MSc students
• Background in microelectronics, material science, or biomedical engineering
• Able to work independently
• Fluent in English

Contact

Last modified: 2025-02-25