CyberRat Probes: High-Resolution Biohybrid Devices for Probing the Brain

Abstract

Abstract. Neuronal probes can be defined as biohybrid entities where the probes and nerve cells establish a close physical interaction for communicating in one or both directions. During the last decade neuronal probe technology has seen an exploded development. This paper presents newly developed chip-based CyberRat probes for enhanced signal transmission from nerve cells to chip or from chip to nerve cells with an emphasis on in−vivo interfacing, either in terms of signal−to−noise ratio or of spatiotemporal resolution. The oxide−insulated chips featuring large−scale and high−resolution arrays of stimulation and recording elements are a promising technology for high spatiotemporal resolution biohybrid devices, as recently demonstrated by recordings obtained from hippocampal slices and brain cortex in implanted animals. Finally, we report on SigMate, an in−house comprehensive automated tool for processing and analysis of acquired signals by such large scale biohybrid devices.