A biopotential optrode array: operation principles and simulations

Abstract We propose an optical electrode ’optrode’ sensor array for biopotential measurements. The transduction mechanism is based on deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystals which realign, altering the optrode’s light reflectance properties, relative to applied potential fields of biological ce...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amr Al Abed, Hrishikesh Srinivas, Josiah Firth, François Ladouceur, Nigel H. Lovell, Leonardo Silvestri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2018-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20182-x
Description
Summary:Abstract We propose an optical electrode ’optrode’ sensor array for biopotential measurements. The transduction mechanism is based on deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystals which realign, altering the optrode’s light reflectance properties, relative to applied potential fields of biological cells and tissue. A computational model of extracellular potential recording by the optrode including the electro-optical transduction mechanism is presented, using a combination of time-domain and frequency-domain finite element analysis. Simulations indicate that the device has appropriate temporal response to faithfully transduce neuronal spikes, and spatial resolution to capture impulse propagation along a single neuron. These simulations contribute to the development of multi-channel optrode arrays for spatio-temporal mapping of electric events in excitable biological tissue.
ISSN:2045-2322