NEURAL STIMULATION ARRAY PROVIDING PROXIMITY OF ELECTRODES TO CELLS VIA CELLULAR MIGRATION

摘要

An interface for selective excitation or sensing of neural cells in a biological neural network is provided. The interface includes a membrane with a number of channels passing through the membrane. Each channel has at least one electrode within it. Neural cells in the biological neural network grow or migrate into the channels, thereby coming into close proximity to the electrodes. Once one or more neural cells have grown or migrated into a channel, a voltage applied to the electrode within the channel selectively excites the neural cell(s) in that channel. The excitation of these neural cell(s) will then transmit throughout the neural network (i.e. cells and axons) that is associated with the neural cell(s) stimulated in the channel. An alternative interface provides cell excitation via an array of electrically conductive pillars on a substrate. The pillars have electrically insulated sides and exposed top surfaces, to provide selective cell excitation.