Patent ID: 6730199
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: C12M,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for measuring electrophysiological activity in a mass of cells, the apparatus comprising:a measurement card (12) with a chamber (21) for receiving the cells for analysis, and the measurement card contains a network of electrodes (25), at least some of the electrodes (25) being located for contact with the mass of cells during operation of the apparatus, each electrode (25) comprising a connector (28) formed of a plurality of conductive tracks, and each electrode (25) of the electrode network being in contact with one the plurality of conductive tracks on the connector; the connector (28) being coupled with an electronic measurement circuit (15) which transmits electrical signals to at least one the plurality of electrodes in the electrode network, and the electronic measurement circuit (15) receiving electrical signals from at least one of the plurality of electrodes; and the chamber (21) has a cover for closing the chamber (21), a wall of the chamber (21) having an inlet (22) for supplying, from a perfusion device, one of a nutrient and a product for testing the cells to the chamber (21), and a wall of the chamber (21) having an outlet (23) for removing by products from the chamber (21), the chamber (21) further including an gas injection duct (29) for supplying a gas to the chamber (21) and a gas exhaust duct (30) for removing gas from the chamber (21).