Neural probe senses and stimulates individual brain cells

Belgium based Imec and its partners within the European FP6 Program NeuroProbes, suggest that applications of the new technology are vast, ranging from tools for fundamental research on the functioning of the brain, to instruments for more precise diagnosis of brain seizures before brain surgery. Traditionally, to discriminate single neurons in the brain, recording electrodes needed to be positioned within 100µm or less to the neuron, ideally within. Multielectrode recording probes have relied on trial and error, as it is not possible to mechanically optimise the position of electrodes independently from each other. According to Imec, the new Electronic Depth Control (EDC) technology, enables individual adjustment of the position of the different electrodes without requiring any mechanical displacement. The EDC neural probe has hundreds of electronically switchable electrodes, allowing to scan for the most informative neural signals, to lock onto them, and eventually adjust their position during the course of an experiment. This technology opens the door to dozens of new research tracks, and promises to refine work currently underway. Next to fundamental brain research, one of the key roles of the EDC technology is pre-operative diagnostics prior to brain surgery for a variety of conditions. Herc Neves, scientist at Imec, said: "You have a patient that is about to be operated on, and you want to remove as little tissue as possible. By pinpointing where the seizure is generated, you remove only that tissue, resulting in safer and less invasive surgery." This work was part of the NeuroProbes project, coordinated by imec and partly funded by the European Commission under Framework Program 6.