The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2018
Filed:
Aug. 01, 2014
Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genoa, IT;
Istituto Don Calabria—ospedale Classificato Sacro Cuore, Verona, IT;
Diego Ghezzi, Genoa, IT;
Fabio Benfenati, Genoa, IT;
Guglielmo Lanzani, Milan, IT;
Maria Rosa Antognazza, Venegono Inferiore, IT;
Giuliano Freddi, Senago, IT;
Ilaria Donelli, Milan, IT;
Maurizio Mete, Fano, IT;
Grazia Pertile, Negrar, IT;
FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA, Genova, IT;
ISTITUTO DON CALABRIA—OSPEDALE CLASSIFICATO SACRO CUORE, Verona, IT;
Abstract
Devices are provided for inhibiting the electrical activity of an excitable cell through the application of a pulse of light which includes a substrate and a photoreactive film both of non-conducting material and laid directly on one another, in which the photoreactive film includes a layer of semiconductor polymer material and has an interface surface which can be placed in contact with an excitable cell and an electrolyte solution. After absorbing light, when placed in contact with the excitable cell and the electrolyte solution, the photoreactive film produces a potential difference across this interface surface which is capable of giving rise to hyperpolarization of the membrane of the excitable cell. Methods of inhibiting the electrical activity of excitable cells using such devices are also provided.