US 11,725,170 B2
System and method for three-dimensional in vitro flexible microelectrode array
David Soscia, Livermore, CA (US); Heather Ann Enright, Livermore, CA (US); Nicholas Fischer, Livermore, CA (US); Doris Mailie Lam, Dublin, CA (US); Angela C. Tooker, Livermore, CA (US); Michael Triplett, Livermore, CA (US); and Elizabeth K. Wheeler, Livermore, CA (US)
Assigned to Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US)
Filed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Livermore, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/677,328.
Prior Publication US 2021/0139828 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. C12M 1/32 (2006.01); C12N 5/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/42 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/30 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 23/12 (2013.01) [B01L 3/5085 (2013.01); C12M 35/02 (2013.01); C12N 5/0068 (2013.01); G01N 27/30 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0829 (2013.01); C12N 2513/00 (2013.01); C12N 2539/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biocompatible, in vitro probe system comprising:
a substrate;
a culture well supported on the substrate and defining a three-dimensional volume for containing in vitro cultures of electroactive cells;
at least one probe subsystem supported on the substrate and including at least one probe having an array of electrodes, the probe being disposed within the culture well for in vitro electrically communicating with the electroactive cells, and adapted to be interfaced to an external electronic instrumentation/recording device;
the probe further including a first region, a second region and a hinge region including a void forming an engineered weakness for controllably weakening the probe at a selected location to aid in bending the probe during a manufacturing operation, the second region including the electrodes and forming a probe sensing body portion, and the first region being fixed to the substrate and adapted to be placed in electrical communication with the external electronic instrumentation/recording device; and
the electrodes being spaced elevationally apart along the second region at different distances from the first region.