Microfabricated needle-arrays for stimulation of tactile receptors

Norihide Kitamura, Julien Chim, Norihisa Miki

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper describes electro tactile display with micro-needle electrodes. The electro tactile display can display the tactile sensations by stimulating tactile receptors with electric currents. Micro-needle electrodes can drastically decrease the electrical impedance because the needles can penetrate through the stratum corneum which has higher impedance than dermis. In addition, adjusted length of the needle allows us to stimulate the tactile receptors with no pain. The shape of micro-needle electrodes of an electro tactile display affects the tactile sensation. When the tip radius of the needle is too small, the impedance between finger and micro-needles becomes large due to the small contact area. On the other hand, when the needle tip has a large radius, the needle cannot go through the surface of fingers and the impedance does not decrease enough. In this work, we developed fabrication processes of a micro-needle array and an electrotactile display using the micro needle electrode array. We experimentally confirmed the superiority of needle electrode devices to flat devices and deduced the optimum shape of the microneedle electrodes for electro tactile display applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHaptics
Subtitle of host publicationNeuroscience, Devices, Modeling, and Applications - 9th International Conference, EuroHaptics 2014, Proceedings
EditorsChristian Duriez, Christian Duriez, Malika Auvray, Malika Auvray
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages552-558
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9783662441923
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event9th International Conference on Haptics: Neuroscience, Devices, Modeling, and Applications, EuroHaptics 2014 - Versailles, France
Duration: 2014 Jun 242014 Jun 26

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume8618
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Other

Other9th International Conference on Haptics: Neuroscience, Devices, Modeling, and Applications, EuroHaptics 2014
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityVersailles
Period14/6/2414/6/26

Keywords

  • Electro tactile display
  • Electrochemical etching
  • Needle electrode
  • Tactile sensation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Computer Science(all)

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