MULTIELECTRODE ARRAYS FOR OLFACTORY INVESTIGATIONS

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：所有人类感官的描述 涉及化学检测(即味觉和嗅觉)的模式仍然存在 最不被理解的。尽管最近的一些报告令人振奋， 他们使用不同的成像方式来研究 嗅球的组织，目前还没有工具可以用来 同时研究神经的精细时间和空间结构 嗅球里的合唱团。第一阶段，仿生技术公司(BTI) 成功演示了微电极阵列在 大鼠嗅球感觉加工的研究。建立在这些基础上 结果，第二阶段建议解决部署以下项目的几个关键问题 神经科学界的这项技术。以独特的合作方式与 BTI的神经科学家将：描述和优化快速 气动插入，开发操作高位电极的新技术 现场计数阵列，实现基于A/D的大鼠慢性记录系统 新的16针高密度连接器，并研究新的制造 多电极架构。我们将对这些技术进行一系列评估 急性实验，由神经接口中心在 犹他州大学，旨在阐明大分子之间的相互作用 嗅觉加工过程中二尖瓣细胞的数量。 建议的商业应用： 不可用

DESCRIPTION(adapted from applicant's abstract): Of all human sensory modalities, those involving chemical detection (i.e. taste and smell), remain the least understood. Although a number of recent reports have been exciting in that they use various imaging modalities to investigate the spatial organization of olfactory bulb, there are currently no tools with which to simultaneously investigate the fine temporal and spatial structure of neural ensembles in the olfactory bulb. In Phase I, Bionic Technologies, Inc (BTI) successfully demonstrated the application of a microelectrode array to investigations of sensory processing in rat olfactory bulb. Building on these results, Phase II proposes to address several key issues in the deployment of this technology by the neuroscience community. In a unique collaboration with neuroscientists, BTI will: characterize and optimize the process of rapid pneumatic insertion, develop novel techniques for manipulating high electrode count arrays in situ, implement a chronic recording system for rats based on a new 16-pin high density connector, and investigate the manufacturing of novel multi-electrode architectures. These technologies will be evaluated in a series of acute experiments, conducted by the Center for Neural Interfaces at the University of Utah, designed to elucidate the interactions between large numbers of mitral cells during olfactory sensory processing. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Not Available