1
|
Yi D, Hartner JP, Ung BS, Zhu HL, Watson BO, Chen L. 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9100550. [PMID: 36290518 PMCID: PMC9598465 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9100550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and the accuracy and quality are highly manual skill-dependent. To address the fabrication and implantation challenges for microwire MEAs, (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for the pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs were developed. A proof-of-concept design of a 32-channel 4-MEA (8-wire each) recording system was prototyped and tested through Sprague Dawley rat recordings. The skull cap design, based on the CT-scan of a single rat conforms well with multiple Sprague Dawley rats of various sizes, ages, and weight with a minimal bregma alignment error (A/P axis standard error of the mean = 0.25 mm, M/L axis standard error of the mean = 0.07 mm, n = 6). The prototyped 32-channel system was able to record the spiking activities over five months. The developed benchtop fabrication method and the 3D printed skull cap implantation platform would enable neuroscience groups to conduct in-house design, fabrication, and implantation of customizable microwire MEAs at a lower cost than the current commercial options and experience a shorter lead time for the design modifications and iterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Yi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | | | - Brian S. Ung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Harrison L. Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Brendon O. Watson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huan Y, Gill JP, Fritzinger JB, Patel PR, Richie JM, Valle ED, Weiland JD, Chestek CA, Chiel HJ. Carbon fiber electrodes for intracellular recording and stimulation. J Neural Eng 2021; 18:10.1088/1741-2552/ac3dd7. [PMID: 34826825 PMCID: PMC10729305 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac3dd7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective.To understand neural circuit dynamics, it is critical to manipulate and record many individual neurons. Traditional recording methods, such as glass microelectrodes, can only control a small number of neurons. More recently, devices with high electrode density have been developed, but few of them can be used for intracellular recording or stimulation in intact nervous systems. Carbon fiber electrodes (CFEs) are 8µm-diameter electrodes that can be assembled into dense arrays (pitches ⩾ 80µm). They have good signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and provide stable extracellular recordings both acutely and chronically in neural tissuein vivo(e.g. rat motor cortex). The small fiber size suggests that arrays could be used for intracellular stimulation.Approach.We tested CFEs for intracellular stimulation using the large identified and electrically compact neurons of the marine molluskAplysia californica. Neuron cell bodies inAplysiarange from 30µm to over 250µm. We compared the efficacy of CFEs to glass microelectrodes by impaling the same neuron's cell body with both electrodes and connecting them to a DC coupled amplifier.Main results.We observed that intracellular waveforms were essentially identical, but the amplitude and SNR in the CFE were lower than in the glass microelectrode. CFE arrays could record from 3 to 8 neurons simultaneously for many hours, and many of these recordings were intracellular, as shown by simultaneous glass microelectrode recordings. CFEs coated with platinum-iridium could stimulate and had stable impedances over many hours. CFEs not within neurons could record local extracellular activity. Despite the lower SNR, the CFEs could record synaptic potentials. CFEs were less sensitive to mechanical perturbations than glass microelectrodes.Significance.The ability to do stable multi-channel recording while stimulating and recording intracellularly make CFEs a powerful new technology for studying neural circuit dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Huan
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey P Gill
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
| | - Johanna B Fritzinger
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Paras R Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Julianna M Richie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Elena Della Valle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - James D Weiland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Cynthia A Chestek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Neurosciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- Robotics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Hillel J Chiel
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|