Cell potential measurement apparatus having a plurality of microelectrodes

A method for the continuous, simultaneous measurement of electrical physiological characteristics of at least one neural sample, comprising the steps of:

• 1.) placing said at least one neural sample on a microelectrode array of a measuring device, which device comprises:
• (A) an integrated neural sample holding instrument provided with said microelectrode array having plurality of microelectrodes arranged in a matrix form, conductive pathways connected to said microelectrodes, a neural sample holding part which is constructed to contain at least one said neural sample and an area including said plurality of microelectrodes, and said conductive pathways for providing electric stimulation signals to said microelectrodes and for leading out a responsive electric signal from said microelectrodes;
• (B) a stimulation signal supply connectable to each said conductive pathways for providing electric stimulation to said neural sample;
• and
• (C) a signal processor connectable to all of said conductive pathways of said integrated neural sample holding instrument suitable for processing said signals arising from electric physiological activities of said at least one neural sample and reflecting said signals as said complex waveforms,
• 2.) electrically stimulating at least one of said neural samples to cause an electrical response stimulus, and
• 3.) continuously simultaneously detecting said electrical response stimulus output signals arising from electric physiological activities of said neural sample and processing said signal to reflect said electrical, physiological responsive, complex waveform.

A method for the measurement of electrical, physiological response, complex waveforms in at least one neural samples, comprising the steps of

• 1.) placing at least one neural sample on a microelectrode array of a measuring device, which device comprises:
• (A) an integrated, neural sample holding instrument provided with i.) said microelectrode array comprising a plurality of microelectrodes arranged in a matrix form, ii.) conductive pathways connected to the microelectrodes, and said conductive pathways for providing electric stimulation signals to said microelectrodes and for leading out an electric signal from said microelectrodes and iii.) a neural sample holding part which is constructed to contain said at least one neural sample and include said plurality of microelectrodes,
• (B) a signal processor connectable to said conductive pathways of said integrated neural sample holding instrument suitable for processing said signals arising from electric physiological activities of said at least one neural sample and reflecting said signals as said complex waveforms,
• 2.) stimulating more than one of said neural samples to cause an electrical response stimulus, and
• 3.) continuously, simultaneously detecting and processing said electrical response stimulus to reflect said complex waveforms.