Patent ID: 8195266

Claim:
A microelectrode assembly for bio-stimulating and/or bio-sensing a target tissue comprising: a substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of nano-porous portions, each extending through the substrate from the first side to the second side, and wherein the substrate comprises aluminum oxide; and an array of microelectrodes, each microelectrode including a nano-wire embedded within a nano-porous portion of the substrate and extending from a proximal end at the first side to a distal end at the second side, each nano-wire having a diameter less than 1 μm, wherein the substrate with the embedded nano-wires is fluid impermeable, and wherein the proximal ends are adapted to be connected to an electronic device and the distal ends are adapted to be disposed in a biological environment; and wherein the nano-wires include an alloy of about 88% platinum and about 12% iridium by molar fraction.