Depth probe for intracranial treatment

• US 20060058743A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AD-Tech Medical Instrument Corp.
• Original Assignee: AD-Tech Medical Instrument Corp.
• Inventors: Putz, David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/262,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A depth probe for intracranial treatment is provided having a body that includes a distal portion with at least one aperture and at least one element, a lumen defined by the body that communicates between an opening and the aperture, and a proximal portion with at least one proximal-contact. The proximal-contact is conductively connected with the element. The lumen is preferably sized to receive an inner catheter adapted to transfer a fluid such as a drug with a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain. The depth probe can include a connector adapted to receive a plurality of proximal-contacts. A depth probe is disclosed that has a distal portion with an aperture and element, a lumen communicating between an opening and the aperture, and an inflatable balloon secured upon its distal portion. The balloon is adapted to seal upon inflation the tract created by the probe when inserted into the brain.

Claims

1. A depth probe for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising:

a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an opening;

a distal portion at the distal end having at least one aperture and at least one element;

a lumen defined by the body in communication with respect to the opening and the aperture; and

a proximal portion at the proximal end having at least one proximal-contact, the proximal-contact being conductively connected with the at least one element.

2. The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the body is made from substantially rigid material and the lumen is sized to receive an inner catheter for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain.

3. The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the proximal end includes a tapered fitting adapted to connect to a pumping instrument for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain.

4. The depth probe of claim 3 wherein the body has an axis and the opening is at the proximal end and coaxial with the lumen.

5. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein at least one aperture is in axial alignment with the lumen.

6. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein the distal end is closed, the aperture being spaced from the distal end along the distal portion.

7. The depth probe of claim 6 wherein the body has at least first and second apertures in communication with respect to the lumen, the first and second apertures being spaced axially along the distal portion.

8. The depth probe of claim 6 wherein the body has at least first and second apertures in communication with respect to the lumen, the first and second apertures being spaced radially about the axis along the distal portion.

9. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein the element is a contact that provides electrical stimulation to a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain.

10. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein the element is at least one contact that monitors activity within the patient'"'"'s brain.

11. The depth probe of claim 10 wherein the contact monitors electrical activity within the patient'"'"'s brain.

12. The depth probe of claim 10 wherein the at least one contact is a plurality of contacts circumscribing the body and spaced axially along the distal portion.

13. The depth probe of claim 10 wherein the contact is a micro-contact.

14. The depth probe of claim 13 wherein the at least one contact is a plurality of micro-contacts spaced axially and radially along the distal portion.

15. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein the element is at least one sensor.

16. The depth probe of claim 15 wherein the sensor senses chemical activity within the patient'"'"'s brain.

17. The depth probe of claim 4 wherein the element is a location marker to identify the position of the distal portion when the probe is inserted into the brain.

18. The depth probe of claim 17 wherein the location marker is adapted to be identified by magnetic resonance imaging.

19. The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion includes a plurality of proximal-contacts and a connector adapted to receive the proximal-contacts is secured with respect to the body.

20. The depth probe of claim 19 wherein each of the proximal-contacts is in electrical communication with a micro-contact.

21. The depth probe of claim 19 wherein the connector extends outward from the body, the connector having a housing formed to position the proximal-contacts in a linear array and a lead-conduit extending from the housing to the body.

22. The depth probe of claim 19 wherein the connector is firmly attached to the body.

23. The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion has a first diameter and the distal portion has a second diameter such that the second diameter is less than the first diameter to reduce the degree of contact with the tissue region by the body when the probe is inserted into the brain.

24. The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the lumen is sized to receive an inner catheter for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain.

25. A depth probe for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising:

a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an opening;

a distal portion at the distal end having at least one aperture and at least one element;

a lumen defined by the body in communication with respect to the opening and the aperture; and

a conduit extending from a proximal portion at the proximal end to an inflatable balloon secured to the distal portion.

26. The depth probe of claim 25 wherein the balloon is inflatable with at least one drug and the balloon is formed from a material permeable to the drug such that the drug can be introduced into the tissue region through the balloon.

27. The depth probe of claim 25 wherein the balloon is adapted to seal upon inflation a tract created upon insertion of the probe into the brain.

28. The depth probe of claim 25 wherein the balloon is positioned along the distal portion proximal to the aperture.

29. The depth probe of claim 25 wherein the balloon is positioned along the distal portion proximal to the element.

30. The depth probe of claim 25 wherein the lumen is sized to receive an inner catheter for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient'"'"'s brain.

31. The depth probe of claim 25 further comprising a proximal portion at the proximal end having at least one proximal-contact conductively connected with the element.