Existing devices for neuromodulation in sensory and neurological conditions rely on conventional electrical pulses that do not selectively activate neurons needed for precise therapy. We have been working on developing new therapies for vision loss and chronic pain that aim to selectively activate different classes of neurons.
For these applications, our team is developing a new Freeform Stimulator (FS) that uses a combination of electronics, precision motor control and a microfluidic neural interface to deliver electrical current in almost any waveform shape. This could enable more selective activation of neurons and contribute to a new generation of devices.
The student will work closely with other researchers in the team to refine the engineering of the existing FS prototype and prepare it for experiments. Depending on the student’s background and interests, the project may involve:
- Characterising the electrical and mechanical performance of the current prototype.
- Improving motor control, phase sensing and synchronisation of stimulation cycles.
- Refining electronic, mechanical or microfluidic components.
- Developing automated benchtop tests for waveform accuracy, stability and repeatability.
- Troubleshooting hardware and software integration.
- Documenting design changes and recommending improvements for the next-generation device.
This is a hands-on project suited particularly to students with a mechatronics or electrical engineering background. Experience or strong interest in electronics, embedded systems, instrumentation, control systems, CAD, programming or prototyping would be highly valuable.
School
Biomedical Engineering
Research Area
Neural engineering | Biomedical instrumentation | Mechatronics | Electronic hardware | Embedded and control systems | Microfluidics | Neural prostheses | Medical device development
Suitable for recognition of Work Integrated Learning (industrial training)?
No
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Supervisory team
- Reference material/links
The student will join a multidisciplinary neural engineering team within the School of Biomedical Engineering and work alongside PhD students developing new approaches to electrical stimulation.
The project will provide hands-on experience with a working research prototype and exposure to electronics, mechatronics, microfluidics, electrophysiology and medical device development. The student will participate in regular project discussions, receive practical guidance from experienced researchers and see how engineering design decisions affect real biological experiments.
The broader research program brings together expertise in implants, electrophysiology, computational modelling, microfluidics and freeform neural stimulation, including collaboration with researchers at Johns Hopkins University who pioneered the Freeform Stimulator technology.
- By the end of the project, the student is expected to have contributed to the engineering refinements and benchtop characterisation required prior to biological experimentation. Depending on the results, the work may also inform future device designs, research publications and the longer-term development of new prostheses for vision and chronic pain.
And researchers in the Freeform Stimulation project team
- Fridman GY and Della Santina CC. Safe direct current stimulation to expand capabilities of neural prostheses. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 2013;21(2):319–328.
- Aplin FP and Fridman GY. Implantable direct current neural modulation: theory, feasibility, and efficacy. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2019;13:379.
- Su TF, Hamilton JD, Guo Y, Potas JR, Shivdasani MN, Moalem-Taylor G, Fridman GY and Aplin FP. Peripheral direct current reduces naturally evoked nociceptive activity at the spinal cord in rodent models of pain. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2024;21(2).