Introduction to synaptic circuits, Gordon M.Shepherd and Christof Koch membrane properties and neurotransmitter actions, David A.McCormick peripheral ganglia, Paul R.Adams and Christof Koch spinal cord - ventral horn, Robert E.Burke olfactory bulb, Gordon M.Shepherd, and Charles A.Greer retina, Peter Sterling cerebellum, Rodolfo R.Llinas and Kerry D.Walton thalamus, S.Murray Sherman and Christof Koch basal ganglia, Charles J.Wilson olfactory cortex, Lewis B.Haberly hippocampus, Thomas H.Brown and Anthony M.Zador neocortex, Rodney J.Douglas and Kevan A.C.Martin Gordon M.Shepherd. Appendix: Dendretic electrotonus and synaptic integration.

The synaptic organization of the brain

An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.

Analyte Monitoring Device And Methods Of Use

A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system includes multiple electrodes, multiple, independently programmable, stimulation channels within an implantable pulse generator (IPG) which channels can provide concurrent, but unique stimulation fields, permitting virtual electrodes to be realized. The SCS system includes a replenishable power source (e.g., rechargeable battery), that may be recharged using transcutaneous power transmissions between antenna coil pairs. An external charger unit, having its own rechargeable battery can be used to charge the IPG replenishable power source. A real-time clock can provide an auto-run schedule for daily stimulation. An included bi-directional telemetry link in the system informs the patient or clinician the status of the system, including the state of charge of the IPG battery. Other processing circuitry in the IPG allows electrode impedance measurements to be made. Further circuitry in the external battery charger can provide alignment detection for the coil pairs.

Rechargeable spinal cord stimulator system

Pax6 Controls Progenitor Cell Identity and Neuronal Fate in Response to Graded Shh Signaling

An implantable infusion pump possesses operational functionality that is, at least in part, controlled by software operating in two processor ICs which are configured to perform some different and some duplicate functions. The pump exchanges messages with an external device via telemetry. Each processor controls a different part of the drug infusion mechanism such that both processors must agree on the appropriateness of drug delivery for infusion to occur. Delivery accumulators are incremented and decremented with delivery requests and with deliveries made. When accumulated amounts reach or exceed, quantized deliverable amounts, infusion is made to occur. The accumulators are capable of being incremented by two or more independent types of delivery requests. Operational modes of the infusion device are changed automatically in view of various system errors that are trapped, various system alarm conditions that are detected, and when excess periods of time lapse between pump and external device interactions.

Microprocessor controlled ambulatory medical apparatus with hand held communication device

A method and system for treatment of incontinence, urgency, frequency, and/or pelvic pain includes implantation of electrodes on a lead or the discharge portion of a catheter adjacent the perineal nerve(s) or tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, either electrical or drug infusion pulses, are supplied by a stimulator implanted remotely, and through the lead or catheter, which is tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. For instance, the system and method reduce or eliminate the incidence of unintentional episodes of bladder emptying by stimulating nerve pathways that diminish involuntary bladder contractions, improve closure of the bladder outlet, and/or improve the long-term health of the urinary system by increasing bladder capacity and period between emptying. Moreover, the system and method allow a patient to be taught to receive one or more patterns of neural stimulation that can be prescribed by a physician and administered without continuous oversight by a clinical practitioner.

Implantable stimulator systems and methods for treatment of incontinence and pain

Absence of monosynaptic reflex in dorsal neck muscles of the cat

The distribution of motoneurones to the cat dorsal neck muscles biventer cervicis, splenius and complexus has been examined using the technique of retrograde horseradish peroxidase transport. A comparison was initially made of HRP uptake into motoneurones produced either by injecting HRP solution directly into a singly neck muscle or by exposing the cut ends of motor nerves to an HRP solution. The injection of HRP into single neck muscles was found to produce widespread labelling of motoneurones presumably due to diffusion of HRP into adjacent muscles. For the examination of individual motoneurone pools the technique of cut nerve exposure was therefore used.



Labelled neck muscle motoneurones ranged from 10–70 μ in diameter, but the majority of cells had diameters which were less than 40 μ. Most cells were located in the ventromedial nucleus and along the medial border of the ventral horn. In these regions there was considerable overlap between the motoneurones pools of the three neck muscles examined. In addition, some splenius motoneurones were located in the nucleus of the spinal accessory nerve. Labelled neck muscle motoneurones were also located in areas not usually considered to contain motoneurones such as the commissural and centrodorsal nuclei and in the ventral commissure.

Distribution of motoneurones to the neck muscles, biventer cervicis, splenius and complexus in the cat

Efficacy of seven retrograde tracers, compared in multiple-labelling studies of feline motoneurones.

Natural head movements in alert, unrestrained cats were studied using video-filming, videofluoroscopy and electromyographic (EMG) recording methods. In each cat, up to sixteen neck muscles or neck-muscle compartments were implanted with recording electrodes. Patterns of muscle recruitment were examined during systematically-selected behavioral epochs in which the cat held a range of stationary postures, and when it performed volitional and exploratory behaviors such as flexion-extension or turning, grooming, eating, or headshaking. Patterns of muscular activity were interpreted with reference to simultaneous video images of head and neck movements. In separate, videofluoroscopic analysis, flexion-extension movements were examined to gain insight into the underlying movements of the skull and cervical vertebrae. These and other movements were found commonly to depend upon changes in joint angles between lower as well as upper cervical joints. Stationary postures in which the neck was held vertically were consistently associated with tonic EMG activity in only two long dorsal muscles, biventer cervicis and occipitoscapularis. Less consistent activity was also present in dorsal intervertebral muscles crossing lower cervical joints. When the neck was held horizontally, the long dorsal muscles increased their EMG activity and moderate activity was also recorded in deeper intervertebral and suboccipital muscles. When flexion-extension occurred around upper cervical joints, greatest activity was recorded in rectus capitis posterior and complexus, but when it involved the lower cervical joints, large changes in EMG activity could also be detected in biventer cervicis, occipitoscapularis, and the intervertebral muscles crossing lower cervical joints. During specialized, sagittal-plane movements such as grooming, well-defined patterns of synergy could be recognized that varied according to the degree of involvement of upper and lower cervical joint-sets. Movements in the horizontal plane were associated with EMG activity in a largely different subset of neck muscles including splenius, longissimus capitis and obliquus capitis inferior. The levels of EMG activity during flexion-extension or turning movements were much lower than those observed during other more vigorous behaviors, such as head shaking. Some neck muscles, such as clavotrapezius and sternomastoideus, could only be recruited during forceful or ballistic head movements. Results showed that the patterns of muscular activation were linked not only to the speed and trajectory of the movements of the skull, but also to the kinematics of the motion occurring across different parts of the cervical column.

F. J. R. Richmond

Papers

Implantable stimulator systems and methods for treatment of incontinence and pain

Absence of monosynaptic reflex in dorsal neck muscles of the cat

Distribution of motoneurones to the neck muscles, biventer cervicis, splenius and complexus in the cat

Efficacy of seven retrograde tracers, compared in multiple-labelling studies of feline motoneurones.

Electromyographic studies of neck muscles in the intact cat. I. Patterns of recruitment underlying posture and movement during natural behaviors.