INSULATING BIOMATERIALS

Release Date:  December 18, 1998

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NINDS-99-04

P.T.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The Neural Prosthesis Program (NPP) of the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, supports the
development and evaluation of biomaterials for implanted neural prostheses. 
Insulating biomaterials, designed to insulate recording and stimulating
microelectrodes, connections between micorelectrodes and implanted integrated
circuit devices, and associated cables and telemetry systems, remain a critical
need at this time.  The goals of this work are to develop biomaterials for the
long-term electrical insulation of implanted neural prostheses and to develop an
in-vivo test system to permit study of insulating biomaterials for neural
prostheses in animals.  In-vitro and in-vivo studies will be conducted.  In-vivo
studies of thin-films of the silicone and fluoropolymer insulating materials
indicate that they can provide insulation of wires and/or micromachined silicon
microdevices at greater than 10,000 megohms for periods of greater than 6 months. 
Studies for longer periods in animals have not been possible because of failures
of the test assembly not related to the biomaterial under test.  An implantable
test system for monitoring insulation current leakage that permits continuous
electrical bias of test devices implanted in the CNS and that operates
essentially indefinitely is needed to demonstrate the reliability of, or
determine the failure modes of, these implanted materials.  Personnel with
established expertise in  bioengineering, biomaterials, and microelectronics will
be needed to perform this research..  It is anticipated that one award will be
made for a period of three years in September 1999.  This is not a Request for
Proposals (RFP).

The solicitation will be available electronically only.  It will be available at
this website (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/areas/contracts_management_branch/index.htm)
 15 or more calendar days after the issuance of this synopsis.  Offerors are 
 responsible for routinely checking thiswebsite for any possible solicitation 
 amendments that may be issued.  Noindividual notification of any amendments 
 will be provided.  All responsiblesources may submit a proposal which shall be 
 considered by the agency. 

INQUIRIES

Inquiries may be directed to:

Laurie A. Leonard
Contracts Management Branch
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
7550 Wisconsin Avenue, Room 901, MSC 9190
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone:  (301) 496-1813
Email:  [email protected]

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