Moderated Debate and Audience Q&A

Session

Description: This interactive panel session presents a constructive scientific debate on the optimal electrode size for clinical neurostimulation applications. Traditional clinical neurostimulation systems have long employed macroelectrodes, while academic engineering efforts have increasingly focused on developing microelectrode technologies. This session directly addresses fundamental questions facing the field: Do we need the higher channel counts and improved spatial specificity offered by microelectrodes, or can macroelectrodes provide comparable clinical outcomes with fewer regulatory hurdles and safety concerns? The debate considers crucial issues including tissue safety, electrode longevity, fabrication complexity, regulatory pathways, and clinical efficacy. Dr. Sameer Seth (Baylor) will advocate for the continued refinement of macroelectrode designs, arguing they can achieve necessary clinical outcomes while avoiding complications associated with miniaturization. Dr. John Seymour (UTHealth Houston) will present counterarguments supporting microelectrode technologies, highlighting their potential for improved spatial resolution and selective neural targeting. Dr. Jon Viventi (Duke University) will provide a third perspective on custom fabrication approaches, discussing how electrode design can be tailored to specific applications. Following individual presentations, Dr. Cameron McIntyre (Duke) and Dr. Svjetlana Miocinovic (Emory) will moderate an extended discussion with audience participation, examining the scientific, engineering, and clinical considerations that should inform electrode design decisions in next-generation neuromodulation systems.