Thin-Film Multiple Electrode Probes: Possibilities and Limitations

Abstract

Thin-film multiple electrode probes are produced by means of thin-film techniques. They are successfully employed for potential measurements in brain research. The most advantageous feature of these probes is that the electrodes can be designed and arranged accurately and close together. The geometric size of the electrode areas is usually in the range of between 50 and 10 000 μm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> . The size limitations of these thin-film probes are mainly determined by the electrode-electrolyte interface and insulation layer qualities. Since medical research problems, as well as surgical requests, are stressing these limitations, some estimates of maximum resolution and probe dimensions are presented.