Electrode system for neural applications

• US 20040199235A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Imad Younis
• Original Assignee: Imad Younis
• Inventors: Younis, Imad
• Application Number:
  US10/491,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for positioning electrodes in a skull. In some embodiments of the invention multiple measurements are made and a desired location is determined or estimated from the results of the measurements.

Claims

1. A multi-electrode lead for neural applications in the brain, comprising:

an elongate body having a tip and an axis; and

a plurality of electrodes arranged at said tip, each of said electrodes having a limited angular sensitivity relative to said axis.

2. A lead according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are radially separated.

3. A lead according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are axially separated.

4. A lead according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are single cell sensing electrodes.

5. A lead according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are selectively extendible.

6. A multi-electrode lead, comprising:

a delivery tube adapted to be inserted into a brain and having an axis; and

a plurality of micro-electrodes which are provided through said tube, said micro-electrodes having sensing areas which define a surface, wherein said surface is not a plane perpendicular to said axis.

7. A lead according to claim 6, wherein said surface is planar and inclined to said axis.

8. A lead according to claim 6, wherein said surface is curved.

9. A lead according to claim 6, wherein said electrode tips define a sensing volume which is bounded by said surface on at least one side thereof.

10. A multi-electrode lead, comprising:

a delivery tube adapted to be inserted into a brain and having an axis; and

a plurality of micro-electrodes held together by a water soluble material and being pre-stressed to deploy by moving apart when said material dissolves.

11. A lead according to claim 10, wherein said electrodes move apart at least 200 micro meters, from each other, when they deploy.

12. A multi-electrode delivery system, comprising:

a lead body having an axis and defining at least one stimulation electrode; and

a plurality of micro-electrodes, wherein said micro-electrodes are adapted to be delivered along said axis.

13. A delivery system according to claim 12, wherein said micro-electrodes are provided through a channel of said lead.

14. A delivery system according to claim 12, wherein said micro-electrodes are provided through a guide tube that encloses said lead.

15. A delivery system according to claim 12, wherein at least some of said micro-electrodes are held together by a water soluble material and are pre-stressed to deploy by moving apart when said material dissolves.

16. A delivery system according to claim 12, wherein said at least one stimulation electrode comprises a plurality of axially spaced stimulation electrodes.

17. Apparatus for locating a location in the brain, comprising:

means for detecting electrical signals from a plurality of locations in the brain;

means for detecting correlation between the detected signals; and

computing means for determining said location based on said correlation.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for detecting comprises means for simultaneously detecting.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for detecting comprises a plurality of implanted spaced apart electrodes adapted to ensure straddling of said location.

20. A method of implanting an electrode in a brain, comprising:

advancing a multi-electrode lead past an estimated location of interest in the brain;

sensing signals from electrodes of said lead; and

analyzing said signals to generate a more exact estimate of said location.

21. A method according to claim 20, comprising selectively stimulating at said more exact estimate of location, to effect a treatment of a patient.

22. A method of locating a position of a functional location in a brain, comprising:

detecting signals from a plurality of locations in a brain, which locations have a known physical positional relationship; and

correlating a behavior of said signals to determine a position of a specific functional location of the brain.

23. A method according to claim 22, comprising:

assuming a function of said brain at a position; and

using said correlation to verify said function.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of locations comprises functional locations.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of locations comprises physical locations.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein correlating comprises comparing to a database of functional signals.

27. A method according to claim 22, wherein correlating comprises matching a spatial pattern of said signals to an expected pattern.

28. A method according to claim 22, wherein correlating comprises matching between signals of different locations.

29. A method according to claim 22, wherein detecting comprises detecting simultaneously.

30. A method according to claim 22, wherein correlating comprises detecting a response of a signal at at least one location to stimulation at a second location.

31. A method according to claim 22, wherein said signals are single cell signals and comprising setting parameters for stimulation of the brain responsive to said detected signals.

32. A cranial tap, comprising:

a body having an aperture therein, wherein said body is adapted to be attached to a hole in a skull and adapted to have mounted thereon a guide for an intra-cranial electrode lead that passes said aperture; and

a cap adapted to seal said aperture of said body after insertion of said body into said hole.

33. A method of abnormal activity detection, comprising:

(a) inserting a plurality of electrodes into a brain region;

(b) receiving signals from said plurality of electrodes;

(c) analyzing said signals to determine an abnormal signal; and

(d) applying stimulation to a selected part of said brain region, responsive to said determined abnormal signal.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein inserting comprising implanting said electrodes as part of an implantable brain stimulation system.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein said electrodes are mounted on a single lead.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein said abnormal signal comprises an oscillatory signal and wherein said applying comprises applying if said oscillatory signal is detected.

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein said abnormal signal comprises a spatial shifting of the signal and wherein said applying comprises not applying if shifting of said signal is detected.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises comparing said received signals to at least one expected signal.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises comparing said received signals to at least one expected signal characteristic.

40. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises comparing said received signals to a database.

41. A method according to claim 33, wherein applying comprises selecting a stimulation to apply responsive to said determined signal.

42. A method according to claim 33, wherein receiving comprises sorting by location.

43. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises correlating signals from different electrodes.

44. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises detecting a local field potential.

45. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises detecting a causal chain between different electrodes.

46. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises detecting a causal chain between different electrodes.

47. A method according to claim 33, wherein analyzing comprises analyzing a pattern over time in at least one electrode.

48. A method according to claim 33, wherein receiving comprises receiving in a dedicated abnormal detection timeslot.

49. A method according to claim 33, wherein receiving comprises receiving on a dedicated abnormal detection electrode.

50. A method according to claim 33, comprising generating an alert to a user on detection of abnormal activity.

51. A method according to claim 34, wherein said implantable brain stimulation system is programmable and applies a stimulation responsive to a response of a brain to a previous stimulation.

52. A method according to claim 34, wherein said implantable brain stimulation system is programmable and reconfigures itself to apply different stimulation configurations in response to measurement of brain activity.

53. An implantable brain stimulation system, comprising:

at least one electrode;

a sensing circuit attached to at least one of said at least one electrode and adapted for sensing brain activity;

a stimulation circuitry attached to at least one of said at least one electrode and adapted to apply a brain stimulation; and

a controller uses said sensed brain activity to decide on stimulation.

54. A system according to claim 53, wherein said controller reconfigures an internal database in response to sensed brain activity.