US Patent 9329168 Devices, systems and methods for high-throughput electrophysiology

Electrophysiology culture plates are provided and are formed from a transparent microelectrode array (MEA) plate. The MEA plate comprises a substrate, a first layer and a first insulating layer. The substrate has a plurality of vias extending from an upper to a lower surface, each via being in electrical contact with each of a plurality of contact pads disposed on the lower surface. The first layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and has a plurality of MEA arrays in electrical communication with at least a first routing layer. Each MEA array comprises a plurality of reference electrodes and a plurality of microelectrodes and the first routing layer is in electrical communication with a select number of the plurality of vias. A first insulating layer is disposed on the first layer. The MEA plate is joined to a biologic culture plate having a plurality of culture wells such that each culture well defines an interior cavity having a bottom surface that is at least partially transparent and in positioned in registration with a select optical port. The MEA plate is coupled to the biologic culture well plate such that each MEA array is operatively coupled to one culture well wherein each microelectrode and each reference electrode are in electrical communication with the interior cavity through the bottom surface of the culture well.