A novel 16k micro-nail CMOS-chip for in-vitro single-cell recording, stimulation and impedance measurements

• Published in: 2010 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Vol. 2010; pp. 2726 - 2729
• Main Authors: Huys, R, Braeken, D, Wouters, J, Loo, J, Severi, S, Vleugels, F, Bartic, C, Borghs, G, Eberle, W
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01-01-2010
• Subjects: Amplifiers, Electronic; Calcium Signaling; Cells, Cultured; Computer Simulation; Computers; Differential amplifiers; Electric Impedance; Electrodes; Equipment Design; Humans; Impedance measurement; Microcell networks; Microelectrodes; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning - methods; Nerve Net - physiology; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Semiconductor device measurement; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Time Factors; Transistors
• ISBN: 1424441234; 9781424441235
• ISSN: 1094-687X; 1557-170X; 1558-4615
• DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2010.5626572

In neurophysiological and pharmaceutical research, parallel and individual access to a dense population of in-vitro cultured neurons is a key feature for analyzing networks of neurons. This paper presents a 0.18μm CMOS chip containing a dense array of micro-nail electrodes, a 128 × 128 sensor/actuator matrix with in-situ differential amplification circuits, pico-Ampere current stimulation, and impedance measurement circuits. Measurements on packaged chips show successful impedance measurements matching the simulation model and electrical recordings of in-vitro cultured cardiomyocytes, correlated with recorded changes in intra-cellular calcium concentrations. This system is a first step towards a high-throughput neuron/chip interface.