T Richard Nichols

Title: T. Richard Nichols: Inventing Flexible 3D Microelectrodes for Live Tissue

Introduction

T. Richard Nichols is an inventor associated with Atlanta, Georgia, and has worked with Axion Biosystems, Inc., and Georgia Tech Research Corporation. His patent work includes a device designed to support electrical interfacing with living tissue.

Latest Patents

Nichols is credited with 1 patent: “3D Microelectrode Device for Live Tissue Applications.” The invention uses a flexible substrate made with poly-dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) and can be fabricated in a miniature form suitable for attachment to a small organ, such as the lateral gastrocnemius muscle of a live rat.

The device’s microelectrodes have specially shaped, insertable tips that help anchor it to tissue. Each electrode’s base is embedded in conductive PDMS (cPDMS), which is held in a pad connected to a conductive track within the flexible substrate. This construction allows the electrodes to bend in different directions while maintaining electrical conductivity, without requiring solder or epoxy adhesives.

Career Highlights

Nichols’s listed professional affiliations include Axion Biosystems, Inc., and Georgia Tech Research Corporation. His patent reflects work at the intersection of flexible materials, microelectrode design, and live-tissue applications.

Collaborations

Gareth S. Guvanasen and Swaminathan Rajaraman are identified as Nichols’s coworkers.

Conclusion

T. Richard Nichols’s patented microelectrode device combines a conformable substrate, anchoring electrode tips, and conductive embedded connections to enable a compact interface for live-tissue research.