Implementation of a neuron emulator for patch-clamp settings

This paper describes the implementation of a neuron emulator circuit. The circuit provides the electrical properties of a neuron as seen from a single patch-clamp electrode. It is intended for testing electrophysiological equipment such as a voltage-clamp or patch-clamp amplifiers. Action potentials (AP) are generated with a voltage-dependent frequency controlled by a microcontroller. The charge that is transferred to the electrode during neuron firing is limited to the charge stored on capacitors also mounted on the emulator board. Measured results from a prototype show that the neuron emulator meets the design specifications and is capable of performing voltage clamp and rate responsive current clamp.