Ultra-miniature in-vivo electrode used for measuring bioelectrical neural activity

• US 20040006281A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hi-Lex Corp., Kanji Matsukawa
• Original Assignee: Hi-Lex Corp., Kanji Matsukawa
• Inventors: Seki, Yasuo, Ito, Takako, Kondoh, Kazuhiko, Matsukawa, Kanji
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/294 for nerve conduction study [NCS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition

Abstract

An ultra-miniature in-vivo electrode used for measuring the bioelectrical neural activity etc. in a living body with small cubic volume, slight burden to the living body, and high insulation performance, thereby facilitating long term stable measurements. Structurally the in-vivo electrode comprises conductors 13, 14 made of polymeric material having a through-hole 19 in each center so as to lead a measuring object 18; a intervening member 15 made of non-conductive polymeric material provided in between the conductors so as to insulate the periphery of the conductors; edge members 16, 17 provided in the outer edge of the conductors; a clad body 12 made of cylindrical insulant enclosing the periphery of them; measuring wires 21,22 to lead electricity to outside from each conductor 21 ,22; a slit 26 which reaches the through-hole 19 from the outside surface being formed in all of the conductors, the intervening member, the edge members, and the clad body.

Claims

1. An ultra-miniature in-vivo electrode used for measuring the bioelectrical neural activity, comprising:

a pair of conductor made of polymeric material having a through-hole in each center guiding a measuring object;

an insulator made of polymeric material which insulates a periphery of the conductors and support said conductors aligning said through-holes in a straight line at an interval,

a pair of wires connected to each said conductor, penetrating said insulator to its outside where a surface of said wires are insulated.

2. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 1, wherein said conductor and said insulator are made of elastic body, and said conductor and, said insulator as a whole having a slit which reaches said through-hole from outside surface, for guiding said measuring object into said through-hole.

3. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 2, wherein said slit is always closed by the elastic force.

4. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 2, wherein said slit stays open by the elastic force.

5. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 2, further comprising;

a thread binding a periphery of the insulator keeping the slit closed.

6. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 1, further comprising;

an earth electrode laid on the surface of the insulator, and

an earth wire connected to said earth electrode, wherein a surface of said earth wire is insulated

7. An in-vivo electrode according to claim 1, wherein said insulator comprises, an intervening member providing in between said conductors, an edge member covering each edge of said conductors, and a cylindrical member enclosing whole periphery of said conductors, said intervening member, and said edge members.