SAFE AND EFFECTIVE STIMULATION OF NEURAL TISSUE

NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 17, May 6, 1994



RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NINDS-94-10



P.T. 34



Keywords:

  Neural Stimulation 

  BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 

  Physiological Controls and System 

  Biomaterials 



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke



The Neural Prosthesis Program of the National Institute of

Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of

Health, is seeking a contract to develop neural stimulating

microelectrodes and evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on

neural and surrounding tissue in non-human animals.  Studies have

established a safe level of intracortical stimulation with single

penetrating microelectrodes, but essentially nothing is known about

the safe limits for multiple, closely-spaced microelectrodes such as

would be used in a visual prosthesis.  Progress has been made on

understanding the causes of tissue damage at the higher levels of

stimulation.  In order to minimize tissue damage, more information is

needed on methods of preventing damage, the safety of new

biomaterials, as well as better methods of physically stabilizing

microelectrodes in neural tissue.  The possibility of using

multicontact integrated circuit microelectrodes with long shanks to

access buried cortical tissue also needs to be investigated.

Histopathological, neurochemical, and neurophysiological techniques

must be applied to determine the effects of both acute and chronic

activation of neural tissue.  Electrodes to be used will include

discrete wire intracortical microelectrodes as well as silicon

microcircuit microelectrodes furnished by the Project Officer.

Personnel with expertise in histological tissue examination and

facilities are needed.  It is anticipated that one award will be made

for a period of three years in January 1995.



INQUIRIES



This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP).  An RFP will be issued on

or about April 26, 1994 with proposals due on June 27, 1994.  All

responsible sources will be considered by the agency.  To receive a

copy of the RFP, submit a written request along with two self-

addressed mailing labels to:



Laurie A. Leonard

Contracts Management Branch

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Federal Building, Room 901

7550 Wisconsin Avenue

Bethesda, MD  20892

ATTN:  NIH-NINDS-94-10



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