3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings
Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/9/10/550 |
| _version_ | 1797475200101515264 |
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| author | Dongyang Yi Jeremiah P. Hartner Brian S. Ung Harrison L. Zhu Brendon O. Watson Lei Chen |
| author_facet | Dongyang Yi Jeremiah P. Hartner Brian S. Ung Harrison L. Zhu Brendon O. Watson Lei Chen |
| author_sort | Dongyang Yi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and the accuracy and quality are highly manual skill-dependent. To address the fabrication and implantation challenges for microwire MEAs, (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for the pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs were developed. A proof-of-concept design of a 32-channel 4-MEA (8-wire each) recording system was prototyped and tested through Sprague Dawley rat recordings. The skull cap design, based on the CT-scan of a single rat conforms well with multiple Sprague Dawley rats of various sizes, ages, and weight with a minimal bregma alignment error (A/P axis standard error of the mean = 0.25 mm, M/L axis standard error of the mean = 0.07 mm, n = 6). The prototyped 32-channel system was able to record the spiking activities over five months. The developed benchtop fabrication method and the 3D printed skull cap implantation platform would enable neuroscience groups to conduct in-house design, fabrication, and implantation of customizable microwire MEAs at a lower cost than the current commercial options and experience a shorter lead time for the design modifications and iterations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:40:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-594ccf0d156f4f419d60bf3f78196fad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:40:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-594ccf0d156f4f419d60bf3f78196fad2023-11-23T22:57:43ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542022-10-0191055010.3390/bioengineering91005503D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain RecordingsDongyang Yi0Jeremiah P. Hartner1Brian S. Ung2Harrison L. Zhu3Brendon O. Watson4Lei Chen5Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USADepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USADepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USAMicrowire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and the accuracy and quality are highly manual skill-dependent. To address the fabrication and implantation challenges for microwire MEAs, (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for the pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs were developed. A proof-of-concept design of a 32-channel 4-MEA (8-wire each) recording system was prototyped and tested through Sprague Dawley rat recordings. The skull cap design, based on the CT-scan of a single rat conforms well with multiple Sprague Dawley rats of various sizes, ages, and weight with a minimal bregma alignment error (A/P axis standard error of the mean = 0.25 mm, M/L axis standard error of the mean = 0.07 mm, n = 6). The prototyped 32-channel system was able to record the spiking activities over five months. The developed benchtop fabrication method and the 3D printed skull cap implantation platform would enable neuroscience groups to conduct in-house design, fabrication, and implantation of customizable microwire MEAs at a lower cost than the current commercial options and experience a shorter lead time for the design modifications and iterations.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/9/10/550microwire microelectrode arrayskull capmulti-region electrophysiological recording3D printingcustom designnormal-behaving rat brain recording |
| spellingShingle | Dongyang Yi Jeremiah P. Hartner Brian S. Ung Harrison L. Zhu Brendon O. Watson Lei Chen 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings Bioengineering microwire microelectrode array skull cap multi-region electrophysiological recording 3D printing custom design normal-behaving rat brain recording |
| title | 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings |
| title_full | 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings |
| title_fullStr | 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings |
| title_short | 3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings |
| title_sort | 3d printed skull cap and benchtop fabricated microwire based microelectrode array for custom rat brain recordings |
| topic | microwire microelectrode array skull cap multi-region electrophysiological recording 3D printing custom design normal-behaving rat brain recording |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/9/10/550 |
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