DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR ACCESSING NATIVE NEURONS THROUGH ARTIFICIAL NEURAL MEDIATORS (ANMS)

摘要

The present invention relates to devices, methods, and systems for accessing native neurons in the nervous system of an animal. Specifically, one or more artificial neural mediators (ANMs) each comprising a neural cell are first formed, and neural connection is then established between the ANMs and one or more native neurons or collections of native neurons located in the nervous system. In this manner, the native neurons or collections of native neurons can be assessed through the ANMs. The neural connection between the ANMs and the native neurons is preferably established by guided axonal growth in the present invention, i.e., either an axon from one of the ANMs is grown into contact with one of the native neurons or collections of native neurons, or an axon from one of the native neurons or collections of native neurons is grown into contact with one of the ANMs.