Neuronal signal detecting and stimulating circuit array for monolithic integrated MEA

A neuronal signal detecting circuit and a neuronal signal stimulating circuit designed for a monolithic integrated MEA（micro-electrode array） system are described. As a basic cell of the circuits, an OPA（ operational amplifier） is designed with low power, low noise, small size and high gain. The detecting circuit has a chip area of 290 μm × 400 μm, a power dissipation of 2.02 mW, an equivalent input noise of 17.72 nV/ Hz, a gain of 60. 5 dB, and an output voltage from - 2. 48 to ＋ 2. 5 V. The stimulating circuit has a chip area of 130 μm × 290 μm, a power dissipation of 740 μW, and an output voltage from - 2. 5 to 2. 04 V. The parameters show that two circuits are suitable for a monolithic integrated MEA system. The detecting circuit and MEA have been fabricated. The test results show that the detecting circuit works well.

Microelectrode array for bioelectrical signal stimulation and recording

A microelectrode array（MEA） is presented, which is composed of 60 independent electrodes with 59 working ones and one reference one, and they are divided into 30 pairs. Except for the reference electrode, each pair consists of one stimulating electrode and one recording electrode. Supported by the peripheral circuits, four electrode states to study the bioelectrical signal of biological tissue or slice cultured in-vitro on the surface of the electrodes can be realized through each pair of electrodes. The four electrode states are stimulation, recording, stimulation and recording simultaneously, and isolation. The state of each pair of working electrodes can be arbitrarily controlled according to actual needs. The MEAs are fabricated in printed circuit board （PCB） technology. The total area of the PCB-based MEA is 49 mm × 49 mm. The impedance measurement of MEA is carried out in 0.9% sodium chloride solution at room temperature by means of 2-point measurements with an Agilent LCR meter, and the test signal for the impedance measurement is sinusoidal （AC voltage 50 mV, sweeping frequency 20 Hz to 10 kHz）. The electrode impedance is between 200 and 3 kΩ while the frequency is between 500 and 1 000 Hz. The electrode impedance magnitude is inversely proportional to the frequency. Experiments of toad sciatic nerve in-vitro stimulation and recording and signal regeneration between isolated toad sciatic nerves are carried out on the PCB-based MEA. The results show that the MEA can be used for bioelectrical signal stimulation, recording, stimulation and recording simultaneously, and isolation of biological tissues or slices in-vitro.

THE STUDY ON NOVEL MICROELECTRODE ARRAY CHIPS FOR THE DETECTION OF HEAVY METALS IN WATER POLLUTION

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace heavy metals in aqueous environment are rapidly assuming significance along with the rapid development of industry.In this paper,gold microelectrode array(MEA)plated with mercury film was used for simultaneous voltammetric detection of zinc,cadmium,lead and copper ions in water.The electrochemical behavior and the actual surface area of the MEA were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in K_(3)[Fe(CN)_(6)].Electrochemical impedance spectrum(EIS)was utilized to examine the deposition of mercury on the electrode surface.Based on anodic stripping voltammetry,mercury film
Au MEA was applied to the detection of heavy metals in artificial analyte,where good calibrate linearity was obtained for cadmium,lead and copper ions,but with zinc exhibiting poor linearity.

Wireless closed-loop deep brain stimulation using microelectrode array probes

Deep brain stimulation(DBS),including optical stimulation and electrical stimulation,has been demonstrated considerable value in exploring pathological brain activity and developing treatments for neural disorders.Advances in DBS microsystems based on implantable microelectrode array(MEA)probes have opened up new opportunities for closed-loop DBS(CL-DBS)in situ.This technology can be used to detect damaged brain circuits and test the therapeutic potential for modulating the output of these circuits in a variety of diseases simultaneously.Despite the success and rapid utilization of MEA probe-based CL-DBS microsystems,key challenges,including excessive wired communication,need to be urgently resolved.In this review,we considered recent advances in MEA probe-based wireless CL-DBS microsystems and outlined the major issues and promising prospects in this field.This technology has the potential to offer novel therapeutic options for psychiatric disorders in the future.

三维柔性神经微电极阵列的制作

提出了一种三维凸起柔性神经微电极阵列的制作方法。该方法以光敏性聚酰亚胺(Durimide 7510)为基质材料,以各向异性刻蚀的硅为模具,结合微注模、金属微图形化和牺牲层电化学释放技术制作三维凸起柔性微电极,并通过数值模拟、形貌观测和电学性能测试对制备的微电极进行了评价。利用上述方法制备了具有4×4电极位点阵列的三维柔性神经微电极,每个电极位点大小为60μm×60μm,高度约37μm。阻抗测试显示,1 kHz时三维凸起电极位点的阻抗比传统的相同大小的平面微电极阵列约降低63%。结果表明,该电极的凸起特点可以保证电极刺激位点与神经细胞的良好接触,同时凸起结构也增加了电极刺激位点的表面积,改善了电极刺激位点的电荷注入能力,可有效提高刺激效果。

Microelectrode Recording of Tissue Neural Oscillations for a Bionic Olfactory Biosensor

In olfactory research, neural oscillations exhibit excellent temporal regularity, which are functional and necessary at thephysiological and cognitive levels. In this paper, we employed a bionic tissue biosensor which treats intact epithelium as sensing element to record the olfactory oscillations extracellularly. After being stimulated by odorant of butanedione, the olfactory receptor neurons generated different kinds of oscillations, which can be described as pulse firing oscillation, transient firing oscillation, superposed firing oscillation, and sustained firing oscillation, according to their temporal appearances respectively. With a time-frequency analysis of sonogram, the oscillations also demonstrated different frequency properties, such as δ, θ, α, β and γ oscillations. The results suggest that the bionic biosensor cooperated with sonogram analysis can well improve the in- vestigation of olfactory oscillations, and provide a novel model for artificial olfaetion sensor design.