HERMETICALLY SEALED THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRODE ARRAY

• US 20070067007A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Jiang, Guangqiang, Schulman, Joseph, Byers, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes

Abstract

The electrode array is a device for making electrical contacts with cellular tissue or organs. The electrode array includes an assembly of electrically conductive electrodes arising from a substrate where the electrodes are hermetically bonded to the substrate. The electrodes also include an insulating layer which leaves at least one zone or at least one hole exposed for making focused electrical contact with the tissue. A hole passing completely or partially through the electrode may further provide an anchor to the living tissue, thereby stabilizing the array with respect to the tissue being examined. Also, a method of manufacture of an electrode array and associated circuitry is disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable electrode arrangement for establishing electrical contact with living tissue, the electrode arrangement comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of feedthrough holes, a top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, each electrode adapted, at its proximal end, to be positioned within a feedthrough hole;

each of said electrodes extending from said top surface, said electrodes hermetically bonded to said substrate;

a dielectric coating covering and electrically insulating at least a portion of said electrodes; and

a reveal zone on said electrodes to enable electrical communication with living tissue.

2. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said reveal zone comprises a through-hole in at least one of said plurality of electrodes.

3. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of electrodes has a shaft that defines a through-hole that is coated by said dielectric coating covering.

4. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are hermetically bonded to said substrate by brazing.

5. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes have a diameter of about 0.02 to 0.10 mm.

6. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes extend from said top surface with a range of heights from approximately 0.5 to 4.0 mm.

7. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are adjacently spaced with a range from approximately 0.5 micrometers to on the order of 100 micrometers.

8. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are comprised of titanium alloy, a platinum-iridium alloy, or a niobium alloy.

9. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is comprised of zirconia or alumina.

10. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric coating is comprised of parylene.

11. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is in registration with a respective one of the feedthroughs.

12. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a cable is electrically connected to at least one of said electrodes, whereby said reveal zone is capable of establishing electrical contact with the tissue and the electrode arrangement is capable of establishing an arrangement of electrical contacts with the tissue.

13. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 12, wherein:

said electrodes perpendicularly extend from said top surface with a range of heights from approximately 0.5 to 4.0 mm, and

said electrodes are adjacently spaced with a range from approximately 0.5 micrometers to on the order of 100 micrometers.

14. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the electrode arrangement electrically contacts individual cellular components of the living tissue and wherein each reveal zone of said electrodes is sufficiently small to be capable of making electrical contact with a single cellular component within the tissue.

15. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said dielectric coat covering is comprised of a biocompatible composition for rendering the electrode arrangement implantable into the living body.

16. The implantable electrode arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said reveal zone is coated with platinum, iridium, or their oxides.

17. An implantable electrode arrangement for establishing electrical contact with living tissue, the electrode arrangement comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of feedthroughs;

a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, each electrode adapted, at it proximal end, for electrical communication with a respective one of the feedthroughs;

each of said electrodes extending substantially perpendicular from said substrate, each of said electrodes being hermetically bonded to said substrate; and

a dielectric coating covering and electrically insulating said electrodes, exclusive of the reveal zone.

18. The implantable electrode arrangement of claim 17, wherein said arrangement is an arrangement of electrodes.

19. A method for making an implantable electrode arrangement comprising the steps of:

obtaining a substrate with at least one feedthrough;

inserting a braze preform on said substrate;

inserting an electrically conductive electrodes into said at least one feedthrough;

brazing said electrode to said feedthrough and

forming a dielectric coating having a reveal upon said electrode, but not at the electrode tips.

20. A method for making an implantable electrode arrangement comprising the following steps:

providing a substrate with a plurality of feedthroughs,

defining sites in said substrate for an arrangement of electrodes,

inserting a braze preform;

inserting electrically conductive electrodes in the plurality of feedthroughs, the electrodes having tips,

forming conductors for electrically connecting to the electrodes by partially removing the braze preform, and

depositing a dielectric coating on at least a portion of said electrodes.

21. An implantable electrode arrangement for establishing electrical contact with living tissue, the electrode arrangement comprising:

at least one electrically conductive electrode defining an arrangement thereof, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end;

said electrode extending substantially perpendicular from a substrate, said electrode being hermetically bonded to said substrate; and

wherein each electrode has at least one reveal zone located between the proximal and distal ends, each electrode having a dielectric coat covering and electrically insulating at least a portion of said electrode.

22. The implantable electrode arrangement of claim 21, wherein said reveal zone further includes a reveal zone that is located at said distal end.

23. The implantable electrode arrangement of claim 21, wherein said reveal zones are located at various distances from said proximal end.

24. The implantable electrode arrangement of claim 21, wherein said distal ends are located at irregular distances from said proximal ends.

25. The implantable electrode arrangement of claim 21, wherein said reveal zone is comprised of at least one through-hole.

26. An implantable electrode arrangement for establishing electrical contact with living tissue, the electrode arrangement comprising:

at least one electrically conductive electrode, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, each electrode adapted, at its proximal end, for electrical communication with a respective one of the feedthroughs;

each of said electrodes extending substantially perpendicular from a substrate, said electrodes being hermetically bonded to said substrate;

said electrode having a plurality of reveal zones located between the proximal and distal ends, each electrode having a dielectric coating covering and electrically insulating at least a portion of said electrodes; and

wherein said electrode has a reveal zone at its distal end to enable electrical communication with living tissue.

27. An implantable electrode arrangement for establishing electrical contact with living tissue, the arrangement comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of feedthrough holes, a top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes, each electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, each electrode adapted, at its proximal end, to be positioned within a feedthrough hole;

each of said electrodes extending from said top surface, said electrodes hermetically bonded to said substrate;

a lid positioned over said bottom surface of said substrate, said lid defining an interior region between said lid and said bottom surface, said interior region adapted to house electronic components, said electronic components in electrical communication with the proximal end of selected ones of said electrodes, said lid providing a hermetically sealed interior region;

a dielectric coating covering and electrically insulating at least a portion of said electrodes; and

a reveal zone on said electrodes to enable electrical communication with living tissue.