22.8 Multi-functional microelectrode array system featuring 59,760 electrodes, 2048 electrophysiology channels, impedance and neurotransmitter measurement units

Various CMOS-based micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) have been developed in recent years for extracellular electrophysiological recording/stimulation of electrogenic cells [1–5]. Mostly two approaches have been used: (i) the active-pixel approach (APS) [2–4], which features simultaneous readout of all electrodes, however, at the expense of a comparably high noise level, and (ii) the switch-matrix (SM) approach, which yields better noise performance, whereas only a subset of electrodes (e.g.,1024) is simultaneously read out [5]. All systems feature, at most, voltage recording and/or voltage/current stimulation functionalities.