Apparatus measuring bioelectrical signals from spheroids, includes commensurately-sized chamber ringed internally with coplanar electrodes

摘要

An electrically-insulating measurement chamber wall surrounds a volume open on one side. Its internal cross section is no greater than that of the largest cross section of a spheroid (2). Electrodes (10) are arranged in a common plane inside the chamber wall. Each electrode has a freely-accessible electrode area facing the measurement region. An impedance measurement arrangement is connected to the electrodes. An Independent claim is included for the corresponding method of measurement of bio-electrical signals from spheroids (e.g. cells or cellular clusters), which are positioned in the chamber. Impedance measurement is carried out by impedance-imaging, in order to determine spatially-resolved electro physiologically-active regions in the spheroid. A related method, also claimed, investigates effects of active substances on spheroids. In a first stage, the spheroid including the active substance, is taken from a culture medium (19) and introduced into the measurement chamber. Non-invasive electrical measurements as cited, follow. In a final stage the spheroid is returned to the culture medium without damage.