Apparatus and method for inducing epileptic seizures in test animals for anticonvulsant drug screening
US6309406A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36082
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A stimulator for electrically inducing a maximal seizure in a test animal for screening candidate anticonvulsant drugs is disclosed. A stimulator according to this invention includes stimulus generation and control circuitry for generating the stimulus, a display for displaying the duration of three phases of the induced seizure, and user input configured to allow the user to control delivery of the stimulus and to record seizure phase transitions to be displayed on the display. The stimulator may also include a foot switch, electrodes, a computer interface and an optional computer. A method of measuring the phases of an electrically induced seizure is disclosed. A method of analyzing the efficacy of a candidate anticonvulsant drug is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.