A Palm-Sized Cryoprobe System With a Built-In Thermocouple and Its Application in an Animal Model of Epilepsy.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to propose a palm-sized cryoprobe system with a built-in thermocouple (TC) for highly accurate and sensitive temperature measurements, and to verify the effectiveness of the system.

Methods: Conventional cryoprobe systems based on the boiling effect of a refrigerant have triple coaxial tubes. In the proposed system, the outer and middle coaxial tubes are made of two different metals that are welded only at the probe tip, thereby forming a TC.

Detailed spectral profile analysis of electrocorticograms during freezing against penicillin-induced epileptiform discharges in the anesthetized rat.

Objectives: Cryosurgery is an alternative technique for minimally invasive treatment of lesions. We have recently examined cryosurgery for epilepsy in animal models, and found that penicillin G (PG)-induced epileptiform discharges (EDs) mostly vanished after freezing. However, EDs were provoked again after insufficient freezing.

The Palm-Sized Cryoprobe System Based on Refrigerant Expansion and Boiling and Its Application to an Animal Model of Epilepsy.

Goal: The purpose of this study is to propose the palm-sized cryoprobe system based on a new concept and to suggest that the freezing technique could be used for treatment of epilepsy.

Methods: We propose herein a cryoprobe system based on the boiling effect that uses a specific refrigerants with a boiling point higher than that of liquid nitrogen yet low enough to result in cell necrosis. To evaluate and verify the effectiveness of the proposed system, cooling characteristics are investigated in agar.

Inhibitory interference to abandonment of voluntary finger movement by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Brain function dynamics related to an inhibitory interference in voluntary motor abandonment was investigated with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalogram (EEG). As the voluntary motor movement, a point-to-point reaching movement of the right index-finger was conducted. The starting time of the movement was indicated with the clock making one revolution for 4 s.

Penicillin-induced epileptiform activity elevates focal brain temperature in anesthetized rats.

To elucidate a relationship between changes in focal brain temperature and severity of abnormal brain activity, epileptiform discharges and behavioral seizures were induced by Penicillin G in anesthetized rats, and focal brain-temperature was measured. Penicillin G was injected into the right primary sensorimotor cortex (400IU/μl). After the injection, epileptiform discharges induced a temperature increase gradually by 0.

Neuroprotective effects of focal brain cooling on photochemically-induced cerebral infarction in rats: analysis from a neurophysiological perspective.

Although systemic hypothermia provides favorable outcomes in stroke patients, it has only been adopted in a limited number of patients because of fatal complications. To resolve these issues, focal brain cooling (FBC) has recently drawn attention as a less-invasive treatment for brain injuries. Therefore, we investigated whether FBC has a favorable effect on focal cerebral ischemia (FCI).

Cooling of the epileptic focus suppresses seizures with minimal influence on neurologic functions.

Purpose: Focal brain cooling is effective for suppression of epileptic seizures, but it is unclear if seizures can be suppressed without a substantial influence on normal neurologic function. To address the issue, a thermoelectrically driven cooling system was developed and applied in free-moving rat models of focal seizure and epilepsy.

Methods: Focal seizures limited to the unilateral forelimb were induced by local application of a penicillin G solution or cobalt powder to the unilateral sensorimotor cortex.