Patent ID: 8639312

Claim:
An electrically shielded containment system used to substantially block electrical noise at a physiological pathway in a conductive complex physiological solution, comprising: an array of signal microelectrodes configured to penetrate the physiological pathway and being operable for implantation in the physiological pathway wherein each signal microelectrode of the array is perpendicular to and integrated on a dielectric substrate; and wherein each microelectrode of the array is substantially coated with an insulative material to reduce the level of electrical noise received by each microelectrode and wherein each microelectrode of the array has exposed insulated tips; and wherein the array of signal microelectrodes include at least one reference microelectrode located adjacent to and integrated with the microelectrodes on the dielectric substrate, wherein the at least one reference microelectrode is positioned on the dielectric substrate relative to the signal microelectrodes to enable a reduced level of electrical noise to be detected between the at least one reference microelectrode and the signal microelectrodes; and wherein each of the at least one reference microelectrode has a greater exposed uninsulated surface area relative to the exposed tips of each of the signal microelectrodes; and an electrical shielding wrap configured to substantially enclose the array of signal microelectrodes and the physiological pathway sufficient to act as a barrier of undesired electrical signals, wherein the electrical shielding wrap is of a porous material and includes a plurality of holes that enable fluid communication of physiological fluids between an inside and outside of the wrap and that enable normal physiological processes to occur.