Electrode bundle

• US 20070088417A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuronano AB
• Original Assignee: Neuronano AB
• Inventors: Schouenborg, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/407 Evaluating the spinal cord A61B5/4896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

An electrode bundle for implantation in soft tissue comprises two or more electrodes aligned in parallel. Each electrode comprises an electrode element, an anchoring element joined to the electrode element at a portion intermediate between the front end and the rear end thereof and a means bundling the electrodes disposed between the anchoring element and the rear end. The anchoring element forms an angle a from 0° to 6° with the electrode element and extends in the direction of the rear end thereof. Also disclosed is a stack of electrode bundles, methods for insertion of the bundle and the stack into soft tissue, and their uses.

Claims

1. Electrode bundle for implantation by insertion into soft tissue comprising two or more electrodes aligned in parallel with their front ends forming the front end of the bundle and their rear ends forming the rear end of the bundle, each electrode comprising (a) an oblong electrically conducting electrode element having a front end and a rear end, (b) an anchoring element having a free end and an end at which it is joined to the electrode element at the front end or a portion thereof intermediate between the front end and the rear end, the anchoring element forming an angle a with the electrode element of from 0°

to 60° and

extending in the direction of the rear end thereof, and (c) an element bundling the electrodes disposed between the anchoring element and the rear end.

2. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the free end of the anchoring element is pointed.

3. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the electrode element and the anchoring element is made in one piece.

4. The electrode bundle of claim 3, wherein the piece is selected from the group consisting of metal wire, carbon fibre and ceramic or glass fibre comprising an electrically conducting coat.

5. The electrode bundle of claim 4, wherein the coat is metallic.

6. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein said two or more electrodes have electrical conductors attached at the rear ends of their electrode elements.

7. The electrode bundle of claim 6, wherein attachment is by soldering, welding or by an electrically conducting glue.

8. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the electrodes, except for a portion extending from the free end of the anchoring element, are covered with an insulating coat.

9. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element or the anchoring element and the electrode element are of a resilient material.

10. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element is curved.

11. The electrode bundle of claim 10, wherein the curved anchoring element is adhesively mounted in a resiliently strained state in abutment with the electrode element.

12. The electrode bundle of claim 11, wherein the adhesive is soluble or swellable in water.

13. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element comprises a hinge joined at a point near to its end to the electrode element.

14. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element comprises memory metal in a strained state seeking, when warmed to body temperature, to adopt a configuration in which its point is more distant from the electrode element.

15. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the bundling element comprises a sleeve or ring.

18. The electrode bundle of claim 1, co-operatively connected to a sensing electrode for control of insertion depth of the bundle, the sensing electrode being slidingly disposed in an axial bore of the core and of a length exceeding that of the bundle.

19. The electrode bundle of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are disposed on one face of a flat non-conductive support.

20. The electrode bundle of claim 19, wherein the anchoring elements are disposed in parallel with parallel opposite edges of said one face of the support.

21. The electrode bundle of claim 20, wherein the anchoring elements are disposed in a mirroring fashion in respect of an axis centred in respect said edges.

22. A stack comprising at least two electrode bundles of claim 19 having a distance element disposed between an adjacent pair of bundles.

23. The stack of claim 22, having electrical shielding disposed between adjacent electrode bundles of the stack.

24. The stack of claim 23, wherein the shielding comprises a metal sheet or net or a metallic layer disposed on the face of the support carrying the insulated electrodes as well as on the electrodes.

25. A method of implanting the electrode bundle of claim 1 in soft tissue, comprising inserting the bundle with its front end foremost into the tissue to a desired depth;

and slightly withdrawing the bundle to make the anchoring elements unfold to anchor the bundle in tissue.

26. A method of implanting the electrode bundle of claim 14 in soft tissue, comprising inserting the bundle with its front end foremost into the tissue to a desired depth;

allowing the anchoring elements to assume their non-strained state; and

optionally slightly withdrawing the bundle to make the anchoring elements unfold to anchor the bundle in tissue.

27. A method of implanting the stack of claim 18 in soft tissue, comprising inserting the stack with its front end foremost into the tissue to a desired depth;

and slightly withdrawing the stack to make the anchoring elements unfold to anchor the stack in tissue.

28. The electrode bundle of claim 1 operatively connected to a recording device.

29. The electrode bundle of claim 1 operatively connected to an electrical source.

16. The electrode bundle of claim 16, comprising a cylindrical core of a non-conducting material at the periphery of which the electrodes are disposed with their electrode elements.

17. The electrode bundle of claim 16, wherein the anchoring elements extend in a generally radial direction in respect of the core.