Schiavone, GiuseppeWagner, FabienFallegger, FlorianKang, XiaoyangVachicouras, NicolasBarra, BeatriceCapogrosso, MarcoBloch, JocelyneCourtine, GrégoireLacour, Stéphanie2020-05-072020-05-072020-05-07201810.1109/EMBC.2018.8512584https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/168633Long-term biointegration of man-made neural interfaces is influenced by the mechanical properties of the implant materials. Substantial experimental work currently aims at replacing conventional hard implant materials with soft alternatives that can favour a lower immune response. Here we assess the performance of a soft electrode array implanted in the spinal epidural space of a minipig model for a period of 6 months. The electrode array includes platinum-silicone electrode contacts and elastic thin-film gold interconnects embedded in silicone. In-vivo electrode impedance and voltage transients were monitored over time. Following implantation, epidural stimulation produced muscle-specific evoked potentials and visible muscle contractions. Over time, postoperative and stimulation induced changes in electrode impedance were observed. Such trends provide a basis for future technological improvements aiming at ensuring the stability of soft implantable electrodes for neural interfacing.text::conference output::conference proceedings::conference paper