Combined micro-macro brain stimulation system

• US 20010027336A1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bejjani, Paul Boulos, Gielen, Frans L.H.
• Application Number:
  US09/818,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A lead for brain stimulation comprising a macro segment having a macro electrode for test stimulation and subsequent chronic stimulation, and a micro segment having a micro electrode for single cell recording is described. Methods for using the lead to stimulate brain tissue and to identify functional boundaries within brain tissue are also provided.

Claims

1. A brain stimulation lead, comprising:

a macro segment having an opening disposed therein; and

a micro segment movably positioned within the macro segment, the micro segment being movable between a retracted position when the micro segment is housed within the macro segment and an extended position when the micro segment extends through the opening of the macro segment.

2. The lead of

claim 1

, wherein the macro segment further comprises at least one electrode adjacent the opening.

3. The lead of

claim 2

wherein, the electrode is configured to perform test stimulation of brain tissue.

4. The lead of

claim 2

wherein, the electrode has a surface area ranging between about 1 mm² and about 20 mm².

5. The lead of

claim 1

, wherein the micro segment further has a distal end and a proximal end and comprises at least one micro-electrode disposed near the distal end, the micro-electrode being configured to perform single cell recording of brain tissue.

6. The lead of

claim 2

, wherein the micro segment further includes a distal end and a proximal end and comprises at least one micro-electrode disposed near the distal end, the micro-electrode being configured to perform single cell recording of brain tissue.

7. The lead of

claim 5

, wherein the micro-electrode has a surface area ranging between about 1 μ

m² and 500 ∥

m².

8. The lead of

claim 5

, wherein the micro-electrode has a surface area of less than about 1 μ

m².

9. The lead of

claim 5

, wherein the micro-electrode further comprises tungsten.

10. The lead of

claim 1

, wherein the length of the micro segment in the extended position ranges between about 1 mm and about 10 mm.

11. The lead of

claim 1

, wherein the macro segment is configured to follow a straight trajectory path in the brain and the micro segment is configure to follow the same trajectory path.

12. The lead of

claim 1

, wherein the micro segment comprises material suitable for use in making a plurality of trajectory paths in human brain tissue to be used in a plurality of trajectories.

13. A method of stimulating brain tissue, comprising:

providing a lead comprising a macro segment including an opening disposed therein and a macro electrode adjacent the opening, a micro being segment movably positioned within the macro segment;

retracting the micro segment into the opening in the macro segment;

establishing a trajectory path within brain tissue;

inserting the lead along the trajectory path while the micro segment is in a retracted position; and

stimulating the brain tissue with the macro electrode.

14. The method of

claim 13

, further comprising:

providing a micro electrode positioned at a distal end of the micro segment;

extending the micro segment through the opening;

recording cell discharge patterns with the micro-electrode;

identifying functional boundaries based on the cell discharge patterns; and

stimulating the brain tissue with the macro electrode within the functional boundaries.

15. A method of identifying functional boundaries between brain structures, comprising:

providing a lead comprising a macro segment including an opening disposed therein and a macro electrode adjacent the opening, a micro segment being movably positioned within the macro segment, the micro segment comprising a micro-electrode disposed at a distal end thereof;

retracting the micro segment into the opening;

establishing a trajectory path within brain tissue;

inserting the lead along the trajectory path while the micro segment is retracted;

extending the micro segment through the opening;

recording cell discharge patterns with the micro-electrode; and

identifying functional boundaries based on the cell patterns.

16. A brain stimulation system, comprising:

a lead comprising a macro segment having an opening disposed therein;

a micro segment movably positioned within the macro segment, the micro segment being movable between a retracted position when the micro segment is housed within the macro segment and an extended position when the micro segment extends through the opening of the macro segment;

at least one electrode adjacent the opening of the macro segment configured to permit test stimulation of brain tissue; and

at least one electrode disposed near a distal end of the micro segment configured to permit single cell recording.

17. The lead of

claim 16

, wherein the macro segment is operatively adapted to follow a straight trajectory in the brain and the micro segment is operatively adapted to follow the same trajectory.

18. The lead of

claim 16

, wherein the micro segment is made of material suitable to be used in a plurality of trajectories.

19. A method of stimulating brain tissue, comprising:

retracting a micro segment into a macro segment;

creating a trajectory path within brain tissue;

inserting a macro segment along the trajectory path while the micro segment is in a retracted position;

extending the micro segment;

recording cell discharge patterns with the micro-electrode;

identifying functional boundaries based on the cell discharge patterns; and

stimulating the brain tissue with the macro electrode within the functional boundaries.

20. A brain stimulation lead, comprising:

identifying means for determining functional boundaries of brain tissue;

means for performing test stimulation of brain tissue; and

means for removing the identifying means from a brain tissue site during test stimulation.

21. The lead of

claim 20

, further comprising:

means for creating a trajectory path within brain tissue.

22. The lead of

claim 20

, further comprising means for chronic stimulation of brain tissue.

23. A brain stimulation lead comprising:

identifying means for determining functional boundaries of brain tissue;

means for performing test stimulation of brain tissue; and

means for housing the identifying means.

24. A system for brain stimulation comprising:

identifying means for determining functional boundaries of brain tissue;

means for performing test stimulation of brain tissue;

means for housing the identifying means; and

means for removing the identifying means from a brain tissue site during test stimulation.