Needle electrode

• US 20040249373A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Entwicklungs Und Forschungszentrum Fur Mikrotherapie, GmbH
• Original Assignee: Entwicklungs Und Forschungszentrum Fur Mikrotherapie, GmbH
• Inventors: Gronemeyer, Dietrich H.W, Sahinbas, Huseyin, Denk, Marion, Speder, Jurgen, Deli, Martin, Gonschorek, Katja, Richter, Jorn, Bracke, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US10/481,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/60 Deposition of organic layers from vapour phase vapour phase deposition in general C23C14/00, C23C16/00

Abstract

Needle electrode for therapy, especially percutaneous galvanotherapy of tumors, which can be visualized by image-generating procedures, which is provided with a coating of platinum and/or an insulating material, as well as a process for the manufacture of the needle electrode according to the invention.

Claims

1. Needle electrode for therapy, especially percutaneous galvanotherapy of tumors, which can be visualized by image-generating procedures, characterized in that it is provided with a coating consisting of platinum and/or an insulating polymer.

2. Needle electrode to claim 1, characterized in that it has a platinum-coated titanium body.

3. Needle electrode to claim 2, characterized in that the platinum coating is a PVD coating.

4. Needle electrode to any of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the thickness of the platinum coating is between 0.1 micron and 3.0 microns, the preferred thickness being approx. 1.0 micron.

5. Needle electrode to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the is diameter of the titanium body is between 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

6. Needle electrode to any of the above claims, characterized in that the needle electrode, with the exception of the needle tip area, is covered with an electrically non-conductive, insulating polymer.

7. Needle electrode to claim 6, characterized in that the polymer used is parylene N, parylene D or preferably parylene C.

8. Needle electrode to claim 6, characterized in that the insulating coating consists of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).

9. Needle electrode to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the layer thickness of the polymer is between 0.001 mm and 0.09 mm, preferably between 0.0025 mm and 0.05 mm.

10. Needle electrode to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is designed as a cannula for electro-chemo-therapy.

11. Needle electrode to any of the above claims, characterized in that its body is made of medical steel.

12. Needle electrode to claim 1, characterized in that it measures 3 to 20 cm in length, preferably 6 to 14 cm.

13. Process for the manufacture of a needle electrode for electrotherapy, especially for percutaneous galvanotherapy of tumors, characterized in that the titanium needle electrode is coated with platinum using the PVD process.

14. Process to claim 13, characterized in that the PVD process comprises the following process stages:

Platinum metal vaporization and ionization in a vacuum chamber,

Addition of reactive gases—

optional,

Application of electric current,

Acceleration of the ions formed onto the titanium body and deposition of same on said body.

15. Process to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the electrode, except for the area of the electrode tip, is additionally coated with a non-conductive polymer.

16. Process to claim 15, characterized in that the polymer used is parylene N, preferably parylene D, and more preferably parylene C.

17. Process to any of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the non-conductive polymer is applied using the Gorham deposition process.

18. Process to claim 16, characterized in that the insulating coating is applied in a spray operation.

19. Process to claim 18, characterized in that the material used for the coating is polytetrafluorethylene (PFTE).