Microfabricated neural thermocouple arrays probe for brain research

A microfabricated neural thermocouple arrays probe (NTAP) is proposed for measuring and comparing the temperature of local brain area in real time sensing. Four junctions of T type thin film thermocouple arrays were fabricated on a sharp silicon probe tip. Each junction size was 20μm by 20 μm. The average seebeck coefficient was 15.12μV/ºC and the dynamic response time was 0.78sec. The temperature of both inside and outside the mouse's thalamus was measured. The result showed that the temperature inside the mouse's thalamus was about 4°C higher than that of the outside.