Bipolar electrode for the impedimetric examination and manipulation of living cells in vitro

A measuring device for impedimetric cell analysis comprising:

• a support device holding a chip with an electrode array on a transparent carrier material wherein the electrode array comprises a bipolar electrode on a substrate adapted for being wetted with an electrolyte solution and for adherently growing cells in order to perform the impedimetric cell analysis, wherein an anode and a cathode of the bipolar electrode are at the same time disposed in a continuous conductive film representing the conductive path due to a high inherent resistance of the bipolar electrode;
• an impedance analyzer which is electrically connectable to two connecting points of said electrode array;
• and
• a fluorescence microscope arranged such that a cell culture on said electrode array can be examined from a back side direction of said chip with said fluorescence microscope and an electrical measurement or manipulation can be monitored optically in parallel;
• wherein said bipolar electrode is formed as a conductive path on said substrate;
• and
• wherein said bipolar electrode has an inherent resistance between two connecting points of said conductive path which is a multiple of an AC impedance of an electrolytic solution at 1 MHz, as measured at said two connecting points.