CHRONICALLY IMPLANTABLE HYBRID CANNULA-MICROELECTRODE SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS MONITORING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS DURING INFUSION OF A CHEMICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL AGENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing an electrophysiological signal in a target tissue and for infusing an agent into the target tissue comprising:
- a body;
a cannula mounted on the body; and
a sensing microelectrode, characterized by having an impedance of approximately 0.2-2 MΩ
at sensed frequencies when implanted into the target tissue and/or an exposed electrically conductive surface area of approximately ten to several thousand square micrometers, in proximity to the cannula and mounted on the body so that the agent supplied to the cannula is provided to the proximity of the target tissue into which at least one electrophysiological microelectrode is electrically coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for assessing the effects of diffusible molecules on electrophysiological recordings from multiple neurons allows for the infusion of reagents through a cannula located among an array of microelectrodes. The device can easily be customized to target specific neural structures. It is designed to be chronically implanted so that isolated neural units and local field potentials are recorded over the course of several weeks or months. Multivariate statistical and spectral analysis of electrophysiological signals acquired using this system could quantitatively identify electrical “signatures” of therapeutically useful drugs.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing an electrophysiological signal in a target tissue and for infusing an agent into the target tissue comprising:
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a body; a cannula mounted on the body; and a sensing microelectrode, characterized by having an impedance of approximately 0.2-2 MΩ
at sensed frequencies when implanted into the target tissue and/or an exposed electrically conductive surface area of approximately ten to several thousand square micrometers, in proximity to the cannula and mounted on the body so that the agent supplied to the cannula is provided to the proximity of the target tissue into which at least one electrophysiological microelectrode is electrically coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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sensing an electrophysiological signal in tissue with at least one sensing electrophysiological microelectrode characterized by having an impedance of approximately 0.2-2 MΩ
at sensed frequencies when implanted into the target tissue and/or an exposed electrically conductive surface area of approximately ten to several thousand square micrometers; andsimultaneously infusing an agent into the target tissue though a cannula provided in proximity of the target tissue with which the at least one sensing electrophysiological microelectrode is electrically coupled. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for sensing an electrophysiological signal in a target tissue and for infusing an agent into the target tissue comprising:
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a body; a cannula mounted on the body; and a sensing microelectrode characterized by having an exposed, microtip sharpened to approximately 1-2 μ
m in diameter and 20-50 μ
m in length, the microtip being positioned in proximity to the cannula and mounted on the body so that the agent supplied to the cannula is provided to the proximity of the target tissue into which at least one electrophysiological microelectrode is electrically coupled.
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Specification