Methods of and apparatus for measuring uterine electrical and mechanical activity
First Claim
1. In a combination with a recording device for monitoring and recording electrical signals, a needle useful for insertion into tissue having cells with gap junctions occurring therebetween, which cells generate electrical signals that propagate by gap junctions upon stimulation of the cells, the needle comprising:
- a hollow shank having an axis and a central cavity within which tissue is received;
an array of recording electrodes disposed within the hollow shank for contact with the tissue therein, each of the recording electrodes having a first lead extending therefrom back to the recording device;
an array of stimulation electrodes disposed in the hollow shank in spaced relation with respect to the recording electrodes for contact with the tissue therein, each stimulation electrode having a lead extending therefrom back to the recording device;
the recording device including means connected to the second leads for applying stimulation signals over the second leads to the stimulation electrodes wherein the cells generate signals for detection by the recording electrodes and wherein the recording device includes means connected to the first leads extending from the recording electrodes for processing the signals.
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Abstract
The existence of gap junctions between cells is detected by stimulating the cells with electrical pulses having selective parameters and then detecting propagated signals emitted by the cells. A needle is provided having stimulation electrodes thereon from which the stimulating pulses emanate and an array of recording electrodes for detecting the pulses. In an alternative embodiment, an array of piezoelectric electrodes is distributed within the array of recording electrodes. The signals detected by the recording electrodes and piezoelectric electrodes are monitored by a recording device and stored within a computer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a combination with a recording device for monitoring and recording electrical signals, a needle useful for insertion into tissue having cells with gap junctions occurring therebetween, which cells generate electrical signals that propagate by gap junctions upon stimulation of the cells, the needle comprising:
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a hollow shank having an axis and a central cavity within which tissue is received; an array of recording electrodes disposed within the hollow shank for contact with the tissue therein, each of the recording electrodes having a first lead extending therefrom back to the recording device; an array of stimulation electrodes disposed in the hollow shank in spaced relation with respect to the recording electrodes for contact with the tissue therein, each stimulation electrode having a lead extending therefrom back to the recording device; the recording device including means connected to the second leads for applying stimulation signals over the second leads to the stimulation electrodes wherein the cells generate signals for detection by the recording electrodes and wherein the recording device includes means connected to the first leads extending from the recording electrodes for processing the signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An arrangement for detecting electrical coupling of cells in tissue by monitoring gap junctions between the cells, the arrangement comprising:
- a needle for insertion into the tissue, the needle having a hollow shank portion with a point for penetrating the tissue and isolating a portion of the cells from the remaining cells;
at least one recording electrode within the hollow shank portion with a first lead extending from the recording electrode; at least one stimulation electrode within the hollow shank portion with a second lead extending from the stimulating electrode; a recording device including means connected to the second lead for applying stimulation signals to the stimulation electrode wherein the cells generate gap junction signals for detection by the recording electrode and the recording device further including means connected to the first lead for processing the gap junction signals. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- a needle for insertion into the tissue, the needle having a hollow shank portion with a point for penetrating the tissue and isolating a portion of the cells from the remaining cells;
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12. A needle useful for monitoring gap junction discharges in a mass of tissue, the needle comprising:
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a shank with a point for penetrating the tissue and a bore extending from the point, wherein the bore receives a portion of the tissue therein to isolate the portion from the remaining mass of tissue; at least one recording electrode in the bore with a first lead extending therefore; at least one stimulating electrode in the bore with a second lead extending therefrom whereby upon applying a current pulse to the first lead to stimulate a gap junction discharge in the portion of tissue, the discharge is detected by the recording electrode for monitoring by a recording device connected to the first lead. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification