In the field of neurosciences research, researchers are using probes/devices incorporating an array of micro-electrodes to measure the electrical activity of brain tissue directly inside the animal (in vivo studies) or in biological models (in vitro studies). In order to obtaining valuable information from such devices, its most critical characteristics are the high quality of the generated electrical signals and mechanical stability of the used micro-electrodes.
The HEPIA Tissue Engineering laboratory is developing brain tissue monitoring tools for basic research, drug discovery and toxicology applications. Proprietary micro-electrode arrays incorporated on flexible microfabricated membranes need to be optimised for the laboratory’s applications.
In this project, it is proposed to replace the currently available equipment allowing impedance measurement and surface coating of porous metal materials by a compact electronics instrument combined with a control software that would allow the improvement of electrodes’ quality reproducibility in an automatic way over the whole electrode array, as well as quality control and reporting capabilities, which are crucial in medical experimentation and research.
Another key feature of the instrument would be a modular design to easily exchange the device connection interface allowing connection to other electrical components that should be measured or optimised, providing high electrode array device versatility.
Project leader - team
Adrien Roux
(HEPIA),
Marc Heuschkel
(HEPIA),
Luc Stoppini
(HEPIA)