Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech Research Corporation

Recon Therapeutics, Inc.

Ho-Jun Suk

Edward Stuart Boyden

Li-Huei Tsai

Anthony James Martorell

Craig Richard Forest

Suhasa Bangalore Kodandaramaiah

Xiang Li

Ingrid Van Welie

Brian Douglas Allen

Ed Boyden

Benjamin E Maimon

Devices, systems, and methods for a treating dementia or Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof. In one example, combined auditory and visual stimuli having a frequency of about 20 Hz to about 60 Hz, and more specifically about 40 Hz, are non-invasively delivered to the subject to induce synchronized gamma oscillations in at least one brain region of the subject. In particular, pursuant to various treatment and exposure protocols, combined auditory and visual stimulation (as opposed to auditory or visual stimulation alone) promotes a microglia response in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). More generally, combined auditory and visual stimulation induces an extended microglia clustering response in the auditory cortex, the visual cortex, and the mPFC.

Systems and methods for preventing, mitigating, and/or treating dementia

In an automated methodology for in vivo image-guided cell patch clamping, a cell patch clamping device is moved into position and targeted to a specific cell using automated image-guided techniques. Cell contact is determined by analyzing the temporal series of measured resistance levels at the clamping device as it is moved. The difference between successive resistance levels is compared to a threshold, which must be exceeded before cell contact is assumed. Pneumatic control methods are used to achieve gigaseal formation and cell break-in, leading to whole-cell patch clamp formation. An automated robotic system capable of performing this methodology automatically performs patch clamping in vivo, automatically locating cells through image guidance and by analyzing the temporal sequence of electrode impedance changes. By continuously monitoring the patching process and rapidly executing actions triggered by specific measurements, the robot can rapidly find target cells in vivo and establish patch-clamp recordings.

Image-guided closed-loop robotic system for automated whole-cell patch clamping electrophysiology of neurons in vivo

A device is disclosed for reconstitution and delivery of an injectable pharmaceutical. A pharmaceutical composition such as a lyophilized drug is provided in a pressurizable fluid reservoir with a pierceable seal. A diluent may be separately provided in a syringe with a needle. When the needle is driven through the seal and the plunger is actuated, fluid from the barrel of the syringe flows into the pressurizable fluid reservoir to simultaneously pressurize the reservoir and mix the diluent with the drug. Pressurized in this manner, the reservoir can then automatically and without further user intervention push the mixture back through the needle and into the barrel of the syringe, further mixing the composition and displacing the plunger to fill the barrel with the reconstituted drug. The needle and syringe can then be detached from the reservoir with the reconstituted drug contained in the barrel and ready for injection.

Pharmaceutical reconstitution

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Ho-Jun Suk