Fluorinated elastomers for brain probes and other applications

An article, comprising one or more of electrodes and configured for implantation into an organ or tissue of a subject, said article comprising:

• a first layer comprising a first fluorinated elastomer;
• a second layer, bonded to the first layer, wherein said second layer comprises an electrically conductive material that forms the one or more of electrodes;
• a third layer, bonded to the second layer, comprising a second fluorinated elastomer;
• and
• one or more sets of additional layers, wherein each of the one or more sets of additional layers comprises:
• an additional second layer comprising an electrically conductive material that forms the one or more of electrodes;
• and
• an additional third layer, bonded to the additional second layer, comprising a fluorinated elastomer;
• wherein:
• the article has a flexural rigidity that is about 10−13 Nm to about 10−7 Nm;
• and
• each of the first layer and the third layers have a specific electrochemical impedance modulus of greater than or equal to 106 Ohm-m at 1 kHz after being immersed in aqueous salt solutions for at least 100 days.

An article, comprising one or more of electrodes and configured for implantation into an organ or tissue of a subject, said article comprising:

• a first layer comprising a first fluorinated elastomer;
• a second layer, bonded to the first layer, wherein said second layer comprises an electrically conductive material that forms the one or more of electrodes;
• a third layer, bonded to the second layer, comprising a second fluorinated elastomer;
• and
• one or more sets of additional layers, wherein each of the one or more sets of additional layers comprises:
• an additional second layer comprising an electrically conductive material that forms the one or more of electrodes;
• and
• an additional third layer, bonded to the additional second layer, comprising a fluorinated elastomer;
• wherein:
• the article has a flexural rigidity that is about 10−13 Nm to about 10−7 Nm;
• and
• each of the first layer and the third layers have an elastic modulus that is less than 107 Pa.

A method of fabricating an article, comprising:

• applying an inert gas plasma to a first layer comprising a first fluorinated elastomer to form a treated first fluorinated elastomer;
• bonding a second layer comprising an electrically conductive material that forms one or more electrodes;
• bonding a third layer to the second layer, the third layer comprising a second fluorinated elastomer;
• and
• depositing one or more sets of additional layers onto the treated first fluorinated elastomer, wherein each of the one or more sets of additional layers comprises:
• an additional second layer comprising an electrically conductive material that forms the one or more electrodes;
• and
• an additional third layer, bonded to the additional second layer, comprising a fluorinated elastomer;
• wherein the article has a flexural rigidity that is about 10−13 Nm to about 10−7 Nm.