Patent ID: 7991480

Claim:
A medical electrical device comprising: an implantable device body; a first electrode support and a second electrode support coupled to the device body, the first electrode support including a first electrode electrically connected to a first electrical connection with a first electrical pole, the second electrode support including a second electrode electrically connected to a second electrical connection with a second electrical pole having an electrical potential different from the first electrical pole, wherein the first and second electrode supports are spaced apart a distance from one another via an electrically isolative interface of the device body, the distance being between about 15 μm to about 75 μm, and wherein the first and second electrodes are configured such that an electrical potential exists between the interface when at least one of the first and second electrodes is energized; at least one nanostructure disposed on at least a portion of the first electrode support; and at least one cell incorporating the nanostructure into the cell, the at least one nanostructure configured to allow cells to at least partially incorporate the nanostructure; wherein the cell incorporates the nanostructure at least partially in vitro.