A multi-parameter, feedback-based electrical stimulation system for cardiomyocyte cultures

Cardiac myocytes are cultured to confluency on a 36-element planar microelectrode array. Spontaneously-active cardiomyocyte cultures are electrically stimulated, eliciting action potentials (APs), and the resulting data is amplified, filtered, and stimulation artifacts are removed during data acquisition. Stimulation circuitry allows real-time control of stimulation waveform amplitude, duration, and rate via 10-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs). By extracting artifacts and processing AP properties in real time, we incorporate these properties into real-time stimulation algorithms, creating a sensitive feedback-regulated myocyte-based transducer of cell electrophysiological properties. Applications of this technology include toxin detection, automated pharmaceutical screening, and basic cardiac electrophysiology.