NEW MULTI-MICROPROBE MATERIALS SYSTEM

A SILICON MICROPROBE-FLEXIBLE CABLE ASSEMBLY, WHICH PROVIDES32 SENSING CHANNELS ALONG A 2-MM LINE AND WHICH CAN BE COUPLED IN GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE RECORDING PROBES, WILL BE DEVELOPED. MATERIAL SELECTION WILL ELIMINATE PROBLEMS OF CORROSION AND LEAKAGE. THE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT A COMPLETED ASSEMBLY WILL FIT INTO A SMALL ANIMAL HEADSET, WHICH MAY THEN BE CONNECTED TO AN EXTERNAL-CABLE, TRANSIMPEDANCE AMPLIFIER VIA A NEW ZERO INSERTION FORCE CONNECTOR THAT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FOR CHRONIC IMPLANTS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL ALLOW RECORDING FROM BOTH SHALLOW AND DEEP STRUCTURES IN THE BRAIN OF BEHAVING ANIMALS. THE SILICON PROBE, FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTING CABLE, AND ZERO INSERTION FORCE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY ARE CONSTRUCTED IN ONE PIECE. THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION WILL ALLOW FURTHER MODIFICATIONS TO BE MADE.