Electrical signal transmission device and method for operating the same

Abstract

An electrical signal transmission device comprising an electrode (11). The electrical signal transmission device is to be disposed opposite electrogenic cells to transmit / receive electrical signals to / from the electrogenic cells via the electrode (11).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to electrical signal transmission technology, and to an electrical signal transmission device and a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device. [Background technology]

[0002] Development of brain-machine interfaces that connect the brain and machines has been progressing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Non-invasive methods such as electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) cannot precisely study brain nerve activity. Therefore, invasive interfaces implanted in the brain are required. For example, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the United States is inserting microwires into the brain to record and stimulate the activity of nerve cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0286592 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a need for a means capable of efficiently measuring the activity of various electrogenic cells, not limited to cranial nerves, either invasively or non-invasively. Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an electrical signal transmission device that can efficiently transmit and receive electrical signals to and from cells, and a method for operating the electrical signal transmission device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the method comprising receiving an electrical signal from an axon of a nerve cell using an electrical signal transmission device placed outside the body and facing the axon of the nerve cell, the electrical signal transmission device including an electrode, the electrode receiving the electrical signal from the axon. The method may be performed in vitro.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the method comprising transmitting an electrical signal to an axon of a nerve cell using an electrical signal transmission device disposed outside the body and facing the axon, the electrical signal transmission device including an electrode that transmits the electrical signal to the axon. The method may be performed in vitro.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the method comprising receiving an electrical signal from an axon of a nerve cell in a body, the electrical signal transmission device comprising an electrode, the electrode receiving the electrical signal from the axon. The method may be performed in vivo.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the method comprising: an electrical signal transmission device facing an axon of a nerve cell in a body emitting an electrical signal; the electrical signal transmission device includes an electrode; and the electrode emits the electrical signal. The method may be performed in vivo.

[0009] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a placement cell that is placed on the electrode and faces the axon.

[0010] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon, and the placement cell may transmit an electrical signal from the axon to the electrode.

[0011] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon, and the placement cell may transmit an electrical signal from the electrode to the axon.

[0012] In the above-mentioned method for operating the electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon, and the placement cell may transmit the electrical signal emitted by the electrode.

[0013] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a cell retention membrane having a recess located on the electrode, and the placement cell may be placed in the recess of the cell retention membrane.

[0014] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the target cells may be muscle cells.

[0015] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the target cell may be a nerve cell.

[0016] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the placement cell may face the end of the axon.

[0017] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrode may face the end of the axon.

[0018] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the end of the axon may be a cut site of the axon.

[0019] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the end of the axon may be the end of a portion extending from the cut site of the axon.

[0020] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be included in a nerve fiber bundle.

[0021] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be included in the central nervous system.

[0022] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be contained in the brain.

[0023] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be included in a nerve fiber bundle connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

[0024] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be contained in the spinal cord.

[0025] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the axon may be included in the peripheral nervous system.

[0026] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may be inserted into a nerve fiber bundle.

[0027] Another aspect of the present invention provides an electrical signal transmission device including an electrode and a first nerve cell disposed on the electrode, the electrical signal transmission device being disposed outside the body and including receiving an electrical signal from a second nerve cell disposed outside the body, wherein a synapse at an axon tip of the first nerve cell is synaptically connected to the second nerve cell, and the electrode receives the electrical signal from the second nerve cell. The method may be performed in vitro.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device including an electrode and a first nerve cell disposed on the electrode, the method including transmitting an electrical signal to a second nerve cell disposed outside the body, the synapse at the axon tip of the first nerve cell being synaptically connected to the second nerve cell, and the electrode transmitting the electrical signal to the second nerve cell. The method may be performed in vitro.

[0029] Furthermore, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device including an electrode and a first nerve cell disposed on the electrode, the method including receiving an electrical signal from a second nerve cell disposed in the body, wherein a synapse at an axon tip of the first nerve cell is synaptically connected to the second nerve cell, and the electrode receives the electrical signal from the second nerve cell. The method may be performed in vivo.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical signal transmission device including an electrode and a first nerve cell disposed on the electrode, the electrical signal transmission device being disposed in a body and comprising: a synapse at an axon tip of the first nerve cell synaptically connected to a second nerve cell in the body; and a method for operating the electrical signal transmission device, the method including the step of emitting an electrical signal. The method may be performed in vivo.

[0031] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may further include a cell holding membrane having a recess located on the electrode, and the first nerve cell may be placed in the recess of the cell holding membrane.

[0032] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the second nerve cell may be contained in the central nervous system.

[0033] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the second nerve cell may be contained in the brain.

[0034] In the above-mentioned method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the second nerve cells may be contained in the spinal cord.

[0035] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the second nerve cell may be contained in the peripheral nervous system.

[0036] In the above-described method for operating an electrical signal transmission device, the electrical signal transmission device may be inserted into a nerve fiber bundle.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical signal transmission device that includes an electrode, is positioned opposite an electrogenic cell, and transmits and receives an electrical signal to and from the electrogenic cell via the electrode.

[0038] The electrical signal transmission device may further include a cell-retaining membrane having a recess located above the electrode.

[0039] The electrical signal transmission device may further include arrangement cells arranged on the electrode, the arrangement cells facing the electrogenic cells.

[0040] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the placement cells may be muscle cells.

[0041] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the location cell may be a nerve cell.

[0042] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the placement cells may transmit the electrical signals from the electrogenic cells to the electrodes.

[0043] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the placement cells may transmit electrical signals from the electrodes to the electrogenic cells.

[0044] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the electrogenic cells may be at least one selected from nerve cells and cardiomyocytes.

[0045] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the electrogenic cell may be a nerve cell, and the locator cell may face an end of an axon of the nerve cell.

[0046] In the above-described electrical signal transmission device, the electrogenic cells may be nerve cells, and the electrodes may face the ends of the axons of the nerve cells.

[0047] The electrical signal transmission device may be an electrical signal transmission device that is inserted into a nerve fiber bundle.

[0048] In the above electrical signal transmission device, the electrodes may be included in an electrode array.

[0049] In the above electrical signal transmission device, the electrode array may be included in an integrated circuit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0050] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical signal transmission device capable of efficiently transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from cells, and a method for operating an electrical signal transmission device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0051] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical signal transmission device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a CMOS according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical signal transmission device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in light of the following description. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the dimensional relationships and ratios of parts may differ between the drawings.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 1, an electrical signal transmission device 100 according to an embodiment includes a substrate 5 and an electrode 11 provided on the substrate 5. The electrical signal transmission device 100 is disposed opposite an electrogenic cell and is used to transmit and receive electrical signals to and from the electrogenic cell via the electrode 11. The electrical signal transmission device 100 may include a plurality of electrodes 11. The plurality of electrodes 11 may form an electrode array 10.

[0054] The electrode 11 faces the electrogenic cell. Cells may be arranged on the substrate 5 and the electrode 11. A plurality of cells may be arranged on the substrate 5 and the electrode 11. The arranged cells on the electrode 11 may face the electrogenic cell.

[0055] The electrical signal transmission device 100 may further include a cell retention membrane 20 that covers the electrode array 10. The cell retention membrane 20 may be provided with a recess 21 that can accommodate cells arranged on the substrate 5 and the electrodes 11.

[0056] The electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment is used, for example, to receive an electrical signal from an electrogenic cell at the electrode 11. The electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment is also used, for example, to transmit an electrical signal from the electrode 11 to the electrogenic cell.

[0057] In the electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment, for example, an electrical signal from an electrogenic cell may be received by the electrode 11 via a placement cell arranged on the electrode 11. However, an electrical signal from an electrogenic cell may also be received by the electrode 11 without going through a placement cell. Furthermore, in the electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment, for example, an electrical signal from the electrode 11 may be transmitted to an electrogenic cell via a placement cell arranged on the electrode 11. However, an electrical signal from the electrode 11 may also be transmitted to an electrogenic cell without going through a placement cell.

[0058] Examples of electrogenic cells include, but are not limited to, nerve cells and cardiomyocytes. In the following, an example in which the electrogenic cells are nerve cells will be described.

[0059] The electrodes 11 of the electrode array 10 can transmit and receive electrical signals independently of each other. The electrode array 10 is included in, for example, an integrated circuit. An example of an integrated circuit is a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). An example of an LSI is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit. In a CMOS, a P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (FET) and an N-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (MOSFET) are connected.

[0060] The equivalent circuit of the CMOS is shown in Figure 2. Each of the electrodes of the electrode array 10 is connected to the gate electrode of a P-channel MOSFET and the gate electrode of an N-channel MOSFET. The input voltage V IN Depending on the input voltage, the output voltage V OU T On the other hand, the output of the P-channel MOSFET or the N-channel MOSFET A voltage can be output from each of the multiple electrodes of the electrode array 10 in response to a voltage input to the drain.

[0061] The electrode array 10 is connected to, for example, a computer system. Electrical signals received by the electrodes 11 of the electrode array 10 are, for example, amplified and transmitted to the computer system. The computer system also controls the electrode array 10 to transmit electrical signals from the electrodes 11 (see, for example, Jun Ogi1 et al., "A 4.8-mVrms-Noise CMOS-Microelectrode Array With Density-Scalable Active Readout Pixels via Disaggregated Differential Amplifier Implementation," Frontiers in Neuroscience, March 2019 | Volume 13 | Article 234).

[0062] The pitch of the electrodes 11 in the electrode array 1 shown in FIG. 1 is arbitrary. For example, when the electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment transmits and receives electrical signals to and from the axons of neurons, the pitch of the electrodes 11 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the axons of neurons. The diameter of mammalian axons is 0.5 μm to 20 μm, and the diameter of axons found in a cross section of the human corpus callosum is approximately 10 μm. By making the electrode pitch smaller than the diameter of the axons of neurons, it is possible to prevent multiple axons from electrically communicating with a single electrode.

[0063] The material of the cell-retaining membrane 20 is not particularly limited. The material of the cell-retaining membrane 20 is selected from, for example, a cell-compatible material that is non-cytotoxic. Examples of materials for the cell-retaining membrane 20 include synthetic resin, glass, and diamond. An example of a synthetic resin is polystyrene. Diamond may be polycrystalline diamond consisting of small crystals (see, for example, Paul A. Nistor et al., "Long-term culture of pluripotent stem-cell-derived human neurons on diamond: A substrate for neurodegeneration research and therapy," Biomaterials 61 (2015) 139-149).

[0064] The shape of each of the plurality of recesses 21 provided in the cell retention membrane 20 is not particularly limited. The opening of the recess 21 may be circular or polygonal. The width and depth of the recess 21 are set according to the size of the cells to be placed in the recess 21.

[0065] The surface of the electrode 11 and the inside of the recess 21 of the cell-retaining membrane 20 may be coated with a matrix to improve cell adhesion and extensibility. Examples of matrices include type I collagen, type IV collagen, fibronectin, laminin, Matrigel, poly-D-lysine, poly-L-lysine, poly-L-ornithine, and gelatin. Carbon nanotubes may be incorporated into fibronectin to form a nanopattern on the surface of the cell-retaining membrane 20 (for example, Toshinori Fujie et al., "Engineered Nanomembranes for Directing Cellular Organization Toward Flexible Biodevices," Nano Lett. 2013, 13, See 3185-3192.)

[0066] The length from the bottom surface of the recess 21 of the cell holding membrane 20 to the electrode 11 and the material of the cell holding membrane 20 are set so that the placed cells contained in the recess 21 of the cell holding membrane 20 can communicate electrically with the electrode located below the placed cells.

[0067] Examples of the arranged cells include nerve cells and muscle cells. Examples of nerve cells include olfactory ensheathing cells. It is preferable that a single arranged cell is accommodated in one recess 21 (see, for example, Sato, H. et al. Microfabric Vessels for Embryoid Body Formation and Rapid Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells. Sci. Rep. 6, 31063; doi: 10.1038 / srep31063 (2016)). One arranged cell may be arranged on the substrate 5 across multiple electrodes 11.

[0068] The placement cell may be electrically connected to the axon of the neuron. The placement cell and the axon of the neuron may be connected so as to be able to transmit and receive electrical signals. As long as transmission and reception of electrical signals is possible, the placement cell and the axon of the neuron do not necessarily have to be directly connected, and there may be a gap between the placement cell and the axon of the neuron. The electrical signal from the axon of the neuron may be received by the electrode 11 via the placement cell, or may be received by the electrode 11 without passing through the placement cell. The electrical signal emitted by the electrode 11 may be transmitted to the axon of the neuron via the placement cell, or may be transmitted to the axon of the neuron without passing through the placement cell.

[0069] When placer cells are neurons, their diameter is between 3 μm and 18 μm, and the diameter of the axon seen in a cross section of the human corpus callosum is about 10 μm. Therefore, one axon is connected to roughly one placer cell.

[0070] Next, a method of operating the electrical signal transmission device 100 according to the embodiment will be described.

[0071] A nerve fiber bundle connecting the left and right hemispheres is cut. The nerve fiber bundle may be, for example, the corpus callosum, the anterior commissure, or the posterior commissure. As shown in FIG. 3, two electrical signal transmission devices 100 are inserted into the cut site of the nerve fiber bundle. Both electrical signal transmission devices 100 are inserted into the cut site of the nerve fiber bundle so that the arranged cells face the cut surface of the nerve fiber bundle.

[0072] Among the axons contained in a severed nerve fiber bundle, the axons on the synapse side are detached from the cell nucleus and undergo necrosis. However, among the axons contained in the severed nerve fiber bundle, the axons on the cell side are promoted to regenerate from damage by the placement cells of the electrical signal transmission device 100 that face the axon cross section.

[0073] For example, when the olfactory ensheathing cells are the placental cells, the olfactory ensheathing cells promote axon regeneration (see, e.g., Rana R. Khankan et al., "Olfactory Ensheathing Cell Transplantation after a Complete Spinal Cord Transection Mediates Neuroprotective and Immunomodulatory Effects"). Mechanisms to Facilitate Regeneration," The Journal of Neuroscience, June 8, 2016· 36(23):6269-6286.)

[0074] If the placing cell is a muscle cell, a neuromuscular junction is formed between the axon end of the placing cell and the muscle cell (see, for example, Julius A. Steinbeck et al., "Functional connectivity under optogenetic control allows modeling of human neuromuscular disease," Cell Stem Cell. 2016 January 7; 18(1): 134-143. doi:10.1016 / j.stem.2015.10.002).

[0075] Furthermore, the axons on the cell side can also be regenerated by emitting an electrical signal from the electrodes of the electrode array 10 and sending the electrical signal to the axons on the cell side via the cell retention membrane 20 and the placed cells, thereby providing electrical stimulation to the axons on the cell side (see, for example, Michael P. Willand et al., "Electrical Stimulation to Promote Peripheral Nerve Regeneration," Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 2016, Vol. 30(5) 490-496.)

[0076] When a neuron in the cerebral hemisphere is stimulated, an electrical signal, an action potential, travels through the axon. The electrical signal is transmitted from the end of the axon to the electrode 11 of the electrode array 10. The end of the axon may be the cut site of the axon or the end of the part extending from the cut site of the axon. This allows the electrical signal transmission device 100 to receive the action potential of the neuron. When recording information in the cerebral hemisphere, the electrode 11 of the electrode array 10 of the electrical signal transmission device 100 emits an electrical signal. The electrical signal emitted from the electrode 11 is transmitted to the axon. In this case, the electrical signal is transmitted antidromically in the axon toward the cell body.

[0077] If we were to insert multiple electrodes into gray matter to read out neuronal information at high density, the densely packed neuronal cell bodies in gray matter would destroy the neuronal cell bodies and potentially affect brain function. Furthermore, because the neuronal cell bodies in gray matter are densely packed in three dimensions, it would be extremely difficult to electrically connect electrodes to individual neurons and read out electrical signals from individual neurons without affecting neighboring neurons (see, for example, Elon Musk et al., "An integrated brain-machine interface platform with thousands of channels," bioRxiv 703801; doi: https: / / doi.org / 10.1101 / 703801).

[0078] Furthermore, when electrical stimulation is applied to the cell body of a neuron using an electrode, electrical stimulation is also applied to the axons of other neurons located nearby the cell body. As a result, stimulation is also applied to neurons far from the neuron being stimulated. In this case, the brain may respond differently than if only the target neuron were stimulated. Furthermore, since it is not possible to stimulate only the neurons that receive the electrical signal from the electrode, it is not possible to read or write information from or to specific neurons (see, for example, Mark H. Histed et al., "Direct Activation of Sparse, Distributed Populations of Cortical Neurons by Electrical Microstimulation," Neuron 63, 508-522, August 27, 2009).

[0079] In contrast, according to the method for operating the electrical signal transmission device 100 of the embodiment, the electrodes are inserted into the nerve fiber bundle between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, rather than into the gray matter, so that cell bodies within the gray matter are not destroyed. Furthermore, in a severed axon, the axon on the synapse side dies, but the axon on the cell body side regenerates from the damage due to the placement cell, so that the nerve cell can continue to function even after the electrical signal transmission device 100 is placed at the site of the severed axon.

[0080] Instead of arranging cells on the substrate 5 and the electrodes 11, a substance that promotes regeneration from damaged axons may be arranged on the substrate 5 and the electrodes 11.

[0081] Furthermore, according to the method of operating the electrical signal transmission device 100 of the embodiment, one axon is connected to roughly one destination cell. Therefore, it is possible to apply electrical stimulation to the same axon from an electrode that has received an action potential from the axon. This prevents discrepancies between information reading and writing, making it possible to write highly accurate information to the brain.

[0082] In the above example, an example was shown in which the axon facing the electrical signal transmission device 100 is contained in the brain, but the axon facing the electrical signal transmission device 100 may be contained in a central nervous system other than the brain. For example, the axon facing the electrical signal transmission device 100 may be contained in the spinal cord. Furthermore, the axon facing the electrical signal transmission device 100 may be contained in the peripheral nervous system. For example, the electrical signal transmission device 100 may be used to transmit and receive electrical signals to and from axons in the peripheral nervous system, thereby controlling bodily sensation and movement, or controlling internal organs and blood vessels. The axon may be severed due to an accident.

[0083] Next, a method of operating the electrical signal transmission device 100 according to another embodiment will be described.

[0084] A nerve fiber bundle connecting the left and right hemispheres is cut. Two electrical signal transmission devices 100 are inserted into the cut site of the nerve fiber bundle. Each electrical signal transmission device 100 is inserted into the cut site of the nerve fiber bundle so that the first nerve cell as the placement cell faces the cut surface of the nerve fiber bundle.

[0085] The first nerve cell placed on the electrode of the electrical signal transmission device 100 extends an axon along the nerve fiber bundle into which the electrical signal transmission device 100 is inserted (see, for example, Stephen JA, et al., "Long Interfascicular Axon Growth from Embryonic Neurons Transplanted into Adult Myelinated Tracts," The Journal of Neuroscience, March 1994, 74(3): 1596-1612). (See FIG. 1). A synapse on an axon extending from a first nerve cell placed on the electrode of the electrical signal transmission device 100 synapses with a second nerve cell forming the nerve fiber bundle into which the electrical signal transmission device 100 is inserted.

[0086] When a second neuron in the cerebral hemisphere is stimulated, an electrical signal, an action potential, travels through the axon of the first neuron and is transmitted to the electrode 11 of the electrode array 10. This allows the electrical signal transmission device 100 to receive the action potential of the second neuron. When recording information in the cerebral hemisphere, the electrode 11 of the electrode array 10 of the electrical signal transmission device 100 emits an electrical signal. The electrical signal emitted from the electrode 11 is transmitted to the second neuron in the brain via the first neuron placed on the electrode. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10 Electrode array, 20 Cell retention membrane, 21 Recess, 100 Electrical signal transmission device

Claims

1. an electrical signal transmission device disposed outside the body and facing the axon of a nerve cell receives an electrical signal derived from the axon; The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is the cut site of the axon, the electrode receives an electrical signal from the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

2. an electrical signal transmission device disposed outside the body and facing the axon of a nerve cell transmits an electrical signal to the axon; The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is the cut site of the axon, the electrode transmits an electrical signal to the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

3. an electrical signal transmission device facing an axon of a nerve cell in the body receives an electrical signal derived from the axon; The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is the cut site of the axon, the electrode receives an electrical signal from the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

4. The electrical signal transmission device opposite to the axon of a nerve cell in the body emits an electrical signal, The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is the cut site of the axon, the electrodes emit the electrical signals; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

5. An electrical signal transmission device disposed outside the body and facing an axon of a nerve cell receives an electrical signal derived from the axon, The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is an end of a portion extending from a cut site of the axon, the electrode receives an electrical signal from the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

6. An electrical signal transmission device disposed outside the body and facing an axon of a nerve cell transmits an electrical signal to the axon, The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is an end of a portion extending from a cut site of the axon, the electrode transmits an electrical signal to the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

7. An electrical signal transmission device facing an axon of a nerve cell in the body receives an electrical signal derived from the axon, The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is an end of a portion extending from a cut site of the axon, the electrode receives an electrical signal from the axon; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

8. An electrical signal transmission device that faces an axon of a nerve cell in the body emits an electrical signal, The electrical signal transmission device comprises an electrode and a placement cell arranged on the electrode, the placement cell facing the axon; The positioning cell faces the end of the axon, the end of the axon is an end of a portion extending from a cut site of the axon, the electrodes emit the electrical signals; A method for operating an electrical signal transmission device.

9. the electrical signal transmission device further comprises a cell-retaining membrane having a recess positioned on the electrode; The placed cells are placed in the recesses of the cell retention membrane. A method for operating the electrical signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to claim 1 , wherein the axon is included in a nerve fiber bundle.

11. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the axon is included in the central nervous system.

12. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to claim 11 , wherein the axon is included in the brain.

13. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the axon is included in a nerve fiber bundle connecting two cerebral hemispheres.

14. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the axon is included in the peripheral nervous system.

15. The method for operating an electrical signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the electrical signal transmission device is inserted into a nerve fiber bundle.

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