31 results about "Sensory cell" patented technology

A neuro-stimulation system employs a includes a stimulator which may include electrode devices and / or vibration elements. A controller may be employed to drive the stimulating elements with an electrical signal. In response to the electrical signal, the stimulating elements deliver electrical and / or mechanical stimulation to the body part. The stimulation may be an aperiodic stimulation and / or may be a subthreshold stimulation. In one embodiment, the stimulator is disposable and the processor determines usage of the stimulator and ensures that the stimulator is limited to a certain amount of use. Neuro-stimulation systems may be applied to sensory cells of body parts during movement of the body parts to induce neuroplastic changes. Such movement may involve a variety of therapeutic applications, e.g. in stroke patient therapy.

The invention provides a series of Galphaq protein variants that functionally couple to sensory cell receptors such as taste GPCRs (TRs) and olfactory GPCRs (ORs) in an overly promiscuous manner. According to the invention, the functional coupling can be determined, for example, by measuring changes in intracellular IP3, or calcium. In a particular embodiment, the Galphaq protein variants can be expressed in mammalian cell lines or Xenopus oocytes, and then evaluated using calcium fluorescence imaging and electrophysiological recording.

The invention provides a series of Galphaq protein variants that functionally couple to sensory cell receptors such as taste GPCRs (TRs) and olfactory GPCRs (ORs) in an overly promiscuous manner. According to the invention, the functional coupling can be determined, for example, by measuring changes in intracellular IP3, or calcium. In a particular embodiment, the Galphaq protein variants can be expressed in mammalian cell lines or Xenopus oocytes, and then evaluated using calcium fluorescence imaging and electrophysiological recording.

The invention provides a series of Gαq protein variants that functionally couple to sensory cell receptors such as taste GPCRs (TRs) and olfactory GPCRs (ORs) in an overly promiscuous manner. According to the invention, the functional coupling can be determined, for example, by measuring changes in intracellular IP3, or calcium. In a particular embodiment, the Gαq protein variants can be expressed in mammalian cell lines or Xenopus oocytes, and then evaluated using calcium fluorescence imaging and electrophysiological recording.

The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of sensory cell-specific polypeptides, antibodies to these polypeptides, methods for detecting these nucleic acids and polypeptides, and methods for screening for modulators of sensory cell-specific polypeptides.

The invention is directed to a replication-deficient adenoviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human atonal homolog-1 (Hath1) protein operably linked to a human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. The invention also is directed to a composition and method utilizing the adenoviral vector to generate sensory cells in the inner ear of a human.

The invention comprises a waveform generation device and method of a constant current transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation instrument. The waveform generation device includes a constant current control circuit and a waveform control circuit. The control output pulses of the constant current control circuit are in a constant current mode. The control output pulses of the waveform control circuit are characterized in that the control output pulses comprise a starting spike pulse T1; the pulse width of the starting spike pulse is smaller than the minimum time threshold value of nerve sensory cells, so that pain caused by the nerve sensory cells can be avoided; 2-5 mA current intensity causes at least 50V voltage drop under skin impedance which is about 20 to 30 k ohm, and the voltage drop can quickly reduce the skin impedance, and the starting spike pulse is a high-frequency signal with steep edges; and the high-frequency signal with steep edges can penetrate skin and enter a subcutaneous tissue. The starting spike pulse is provided, so that body impedance can be decreased fast without causing any pain, and the efficiency of stimulating subcutaneous nerves can be improved.

The present invention provides, for the first time, nucleic acids encoding a eukaryotic mechanosensory transduction channel (MSC) protein. The proteins encoded by these nucleic acids form channels that can directly detect mechanical stimuli and convert them into electrical signals. These nucleic acids and the proteins they encode can be used as probes for sensory cells in animals, and can be used to diagnose and treat any of a number of human conditions involving inherited, casual, or environmentally-induced loss of mechanosensory transduction activity.