Patent ID: 8359083

Claim:
A microelectrode array system used to sense physiological signals and stimulate signals in a conductive complex physiological solution, comprising: a dielectric substrate; a two dimensional array of signal microelectrodes substantially perpendicular to and integrated on the dielectric substrate, wherein each signal microelectrode in the array has a predetermined height relative to the dielectric substrate, wherein the signal microelectrodes are substantially coated with an insulative material to reduce the level of electrical noise received by the signal microelectrodes and have exposed uninsulated tips configured to perform at least one of sensing the physiological signals and stimulating signals in the conductive complex physiological solution; and at least one reference microelectrode located adjacent to and integrated with the signal microelectrodes on the dielectric substrate, wherein the at least one reference microelectrode is positioned on the dielectric substrate relative to the signal microelectrodes to enable a reduced level of electrical noise to be detected between the reference microelectrode and the signal microelectrodes, wherein the at least one reference microelectrode has a greater exposed uninsulated surface area relative to the exposed tips of each of the signal microelectrodes, and wherein the at least one reference microelectrode measures potential and is used as an electrical reference for the signal measured by the signal microelectrodes.