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Microelectrode arrays offer the potential to record from and stimulate areas of the nervous system, including peripheral nerves. While cuff electrodes, which surround a nerve without causing a penetrating injury, have been historically used in PNS applications, devices which offer the specificity required for neuroprosthetic applications will likely need to be of a penetrating nature. Therefore, we have been examining the inflammatory and morphometric responses to penetrating microelectrode arrays, specifically the Utah Slant Electrode Array, in the sciatic nerve. Additionally, we have found that the use of a nerve cuff alone is sufficient to induce an inflammatory response and accompanying morphometric changes in the underlying nerve. Therefore, we are also investigating the use of alternative materials, including cell-derived tissue scaffolds, as nerve cuffs.
Recent Poster:
Recent Publications:
Christensen, M.B., Pearce, S.M., Ledbetter, N.M., Warren, D.J., Clark, G.A., Tresco, P.A., The foreign body response to a penetrating, high density, silicon microelectrode array in the cat sciatic nerve, Biomaterials. [In press]
Christensen, MB, Bridge, MJ and PA Tresco, (2009) The foreign body response to nerve cuff implantation is associated with persistent inflammation and changes in fiber composition of the encapsulated nerve, 39th Annual Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, Ill.
Christensen, MB, Pearce, SM, and Tresco, PA. (2008) Characterization of the foreign body response to penetrating microelectrode arrays in cat sciatic nerves. Submitted to 38th Annual Meeting Society for Neuroscience.
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Peripheral Nervous System Tissue Response |
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The Keck Center for Tissue Engineering |
