Silcon Micromachined Microelectrode Arrays for Multisite Neuronal Recording in the Mammalian Brain

本提案中要求的赠款将用于支持微电极阵列（“探针”）制造技术的开发。探针将能够以最小的组织创伤插入大脑，在那里它们将记录神经元信号。阵列将使用硅微机械加工方法制造，并将在麻醉动物中进行测试。还将设计CMOS集成电路，以放大从单个探针上的几个记录位点中的每一个记录的信号，并将它们多路复用到单个输出线上。 将开发互连和封装方法，以将探头和电子器件联合收割机组合成适合在动物中使用的包装。探针将被设计为使得CMOS电子器件最终可以与探针集成在共同的衬底上。 探针将用于从哺乳动物大脑的多个部位获得同步记录。 这些记录被用来获取无法通过其他方式获得的信息，以了解大脑在单神经元和网络层面上的工作方式。在这项资助下开发的仪器将大大扩展我们进行这项基础神经科学研究的能力。

The grant requested in this proposal will support the development of a technology for the fabrication of microelectrode arrays ("probes"). The probes will be capable of being inserted with minimal tissue trauma into the brain, where they will record neuronal signals. The arrays will be fabricated using silicon micromachining methods, and will be tested in anesthetized animals. CMOS integrated circuits will also be designed, to amplify the signals recorded from each of the several recording sites on a single probe, and multiplex them onto a single output line. Interconnect and encapsulation methods will be developed to combine the probes and electronics into a package suitable for use in animals. The probes will be designed so that the CMOS electronics can ultimately be integrated on a common substrate with the probes. The probes will be used to obtain simultaneous recordings from multiple sites in the mammalian brain. Such recordings are used to obtain information that is not available through other means, in order to learn about how the brain works on the single-neuron and network levels. The instruments to be developed under this grant will greatly extend our ability to conduct this basic neuroscience research.