The Heart on a Microchip

The heart can be analysed not only as a whole organ, but also on the basis of cultured heart muscle cells using microelectrode arrays. Several problem areas are being addressed at TU Graz in this way. Researchers at the Institute of Health Care Engineering with European Testing Center of Medical Devices at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) are devoting their work to the human heart, among other things. They use a special technology that allows non-invasive examination of cardiac activity in a petri dish using a microchip called microelectrode arrays. Microelectrode arrays. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) consist of several microelectrodes in close proximity to each other. They can be attached to the surface of a petri dish and connected to high-resolution measurement electronics.