Impedance microprobes for myocardial ischemia monitoring

Describes the development, packaging and characterization of a silicon-based impedance microprobe for myocardial ischemia monitoring during open-heart surgery. The microprobe consists of four planar Pt electrodes micromachined on an isolated silicon substrate. The microprobe has been assembled on a ceramic substrate, packaged with epoxy resin and wired to the external instrumentation. Mechanical characterization of the system and in vitro biocompatibility tests of the device have been performed. Measurement instrumentation for preliminary tests has also been developed.