University of California

Daniel C Bridges

Paul K Hansma

Connor J Randall

Barney Drake

Kenneth Kosik

Kenneth R Tovar

Luke S K Theogarajan

Randall Connor

A Neural Circuit Probe (NCP) combines a multi-electrode array (MEA) with an automated local probe, wherein the probe is positioned to interact with one or more cells, such as neurons of a neural circuit, grown on or about one or more electrodes of the multi-electrode array. The probe may interact with the cells by electrically recording signals from the multi-electrode array that are assigned to a specific one of the cells. The probe may interact with the cells by locally delivering chemicals to the cells, which transiently and reversibly modulate the electrical behavior of the cells. The probe may interact with the cells by harvesting the cells using a pipette, so that the harvested cells can be sequenced.

Neural circuit probe

The field of the invention generally relates to probes, related devices and methods for measuring material properties. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a test probe for use in a reference point indentation device. The test probe has an end proximal to a tip and an end distal to the tip. The distal end of the test probe has a self-centering mate comprising a countersink of about 90 degrees to about 100 degrees to a depth of between 0.010 in. and 0.035 in.

Self-aligning probes and related devices

The device performs reference point indentation without a reference probe. The indentation distance is measured relative to the instrument which remains substantially stationary during the impact process, which occurs on the order of one millisecond. In one embodiment, an impact motion with a peak force of order 28N creates an indentation in bone with a depth of approximately 150 &#x3bc;m during which the instrument case moves less than 1 &#x3bc;m. Thus the error in measuring indentation depth due to the motion of the case is less than 1%, making a reference probe unnecessary. Further, this 'error' is consistent and can be corrected. In one embodiment, the device measures the fracture resistance of hard tissues by actually creating microscopic fractures in the hard tissues in a measured way. It creates these microscopic fractures by impacting the sample with a sharpened probe. The indentation distance in the sample is correlated with fracture resistance.

Method and device for reference point indentation without a reference probe

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Daniel C Bridges