Activeinvasive Eeg Device and Technique

• US 20070265543A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: VanSickle, David, Winston, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

An electrode device for taking a plurality of EEG measurements, and an associated method of taking EEG measurements, whereby a plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member are in electrical communication with, and in relative proximity to, an integrated circuit comprising converter circuitry adapted for converting analog EEG signals measured, having originated from within a patient, into digital signals prior to transmission thereof to a processing unit. The integrated circuit/circuitry (IC) may be supported by the support member or by a lead assembly having wiring for the digital signal transmission. The support member may have a plurality of layers and be generally flexible; as fabricated of any of a number of flexible, generally insulative biocompatible materials to which circuitry may be etched or deposited, exhibiting sufficient structural integrity to decrease likelihood of degradation during surgery or once implanted.

Claims

1. An electrode device for taking a plurality of EEG measurements, comprising:

(a) a plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member;

(b) said contact-points in electrical communication with, and in relative proximity to, an integrated circuit comprising converter circuitry adapted for converting analog EEG signals measured, having originated from within a patient, into digital signals prior to transmission thereof to a processing unit; and

(c) said integrated circuit in further electrical communication with a lead assembly having wiring for said digital signal transmission.

2. The electrode device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said support member comprises a plurality of layers, said plurality of layers comprises a power plane and a ground reference plane; and

(b) said integrated circuit further comprises circuitry for digital filtering and signal analysis of said digital signals.

3. The electrode device of claim 1:

further comprising (a) a quick-connect mechanism located along said lead assembly between said integrated circuit and a host processing unit, and (b) an antibiotic cuff mechanism located along said lead assembly between said quick-connect mechanism and a stabilizer of said lead assembly to a location on said patient; and

(c) wherein said support member is generally flexible and comprises a plurality of layers.

4. The electrode device of claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit further comprises circuitry for:

(a) digital filtering of said digital signals;

(b) signal analysis and processing of said digital signals;

(c) memory storage of said processed digital signals;

(d) coalescing said digital signals employing a bus protocol for reducing wiring; and

(e) wireless transmission of information about said processed digital signals.

5. The electrode device of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said integrated circuit further comprises circuitry for digital filtering and signal analysis of said digital signals; and

(b) said processing unit comprises a recorder-processor unit for receiving information about said digital signals from said integrated circuit, said recorder-processor unit adapted to be worn by said patient, and a transmission medium disposed between said integrated circuit and said recorder-processor unit.

6. The electrode device of claim 5 wherein said transmission medium is selected from the group consisting of (a) air, wherein said information is transmitted wirelessly, and (b) cabling, a first end of which is in electrical communication with said integrated circuit and a second end of which is connected to said recorder-processor unit.

7. The electrode device of claim 6:

(a) wherein said transmission medium comprises said cabling; and

(b) further comprising a quick-connect mechanism located along said lead assembly between said integrated circuit and said recorder-processor unit, and a host processor remotely located from said recorder-processor unit for further processing said information about said digital signals.

8. The electrode device of claim 1:

(a) further comprising a quick-connect mechanism located along said lead assembly between said integrated circuit and said processing unit, said unit comprises a host processor remotely located from said support member; and

(b) wherein said integrated circuit is supported by said lead assembly, and said support member is generally flexible and comprises a plurality of layers.

9. The electrode device of claim 1 further comprising a separation marking between at least one of said contact-points and a second of said contact-points for permitting a severing of said support member therealong for removing a portion of said support member containing said at least one contact-point;

and wherein a remaining portion of said support member comprising said integrated circuit is used for said measuring analog EEG signals through said electrode contact-points of said remaining portion.

10. The electrode device of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a second plurality of second electrode contact-points configured atop said support member;

(b) said second contact-points in electrical communication with a second integrated circuit comprising converter circuitry adapted for converting analog EEG signals measured by said second contact-points, into digital signals; and

(c) said second integrated circuit in electrical communication with said lead assembly.

11. The electrode device of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a second plurality of second electrode contact-points configured atop said support member;

(b) said second contact-points in electrical communication with a second integrated circuit comprising converter circuitry adapted for converting analog EEG signals measured by said second contact-points, into digital signals;

(c) a separation between said second plurality and said second integrated circuit and said first plurality and said first integrated circuit, permitting a severing of said support member therealong.

12. An electrode device for taking a plurality of EEG measurements, comprising:

(a) a plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member;

(b) said contact-points in electrical communication with an integrated circuit comprising converter circuitry adapted for converting analog EEG signals measured, having originated from within a patient, into digital signals;

(c) said integrated circuit being supported by said support member; and

(d) said integrated circuit in further electrical communication with a lead assembly having antenna wiring adapted for wireless electrical transmission of said digital signals.

13. A method of taking a plurality of EEG measurements, the method comprising:

(a) measuring analog EEG signals, having originated from within a patient, through a plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member;

(b) prior to transmitting information about said analog EEG signals to a host processing unit, converting said analog EEG signals into digital signals using circuitry of an integrated circuit in electrical communication with, and in relative proximity to, said contact-points;

(c) electrically transmitting said digital signals from said integrated circuit through a lead assembly; and

(d) further transmitting said digital signals to said host processing unit.

14. The method of claim 13:

(a) further comprising, after said step of converting said analog EEG signals and prior to performing said step of electrically transmitting from said integrated circuit, the steps of;

filtering and processing said digital signals; and

(b) wherein said step of electrically transmitting from said integrated circuit comprises transmitting through said lead assembly to a recorder-processor unit adapted to be worn by said patient, and said step of further transmitting said digital signals comprises transmitting information about said processed digital signals from said recorder-processor unit to said host processing unit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

(a) said step of transmitting through said lead assembly comprises wirelessly transmitting said digital signals from an antenna wiring of said lead assembly to said recorder-processor;

(b) said step of further transmitting information about said processed digital signals from said recorder-processor unit comprises wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic waves outwardly from said recorder-processor unit to said host processing unit.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein:

(a) said step of transmitting through said lead assembly comprises transmitting said digital signals through a cabling having an antibiotic cuff for preventing infection therealong, in electrical communication with said lead assembly to said recorder-processor; and

(b) said step of further transmitting information about said processed digital signals from said recorder-processor unit comprises connecting said recorder-processor unit to said host unit and downloading said information.

17. The method of claim 13:

(a) further comprising, prior to said step of measuring analog EEG signals, joining a quick-connect mechanism located along said lead assembly between said integrated circuit and said host processing unit, providing a hardwire electrical connection for performing said step of further transmitting said digital signals to said host processing unit; and

(b) after taking the plurality of EEG measurements, disconnecting said quick-connect mechanism and leaving said support member in place for the taking of EEG measurements, subsequent in time.

18. A method of taking a plurality of EEG measurements, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first and second plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member, said first plurality in electrical communication with a first integrated circuit in electrical communication with, and in relative proximity to, said first contact-points;

(b) severing said support member along a separation between said first and second plurality;

(c) locating that portion of said support member comprising said first plurality and said first integrated circuit for measuring analog EEG signals, having originated from within a patient, through said first plurality of electrode contact-points; and

(d) prior to transmitting information about said analog EEG signals to a host processing unit, converting said analog EEG signals into digital signals using circuitry of said integrated circuit.

19. A method of taking a plurality of EEG measurements, the method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of electrode contact-points configured atop a support member in electrical communication with an integrated circuit in relative proximity to said contact-points;

(b) severing said support member along a separation marking made between certain of said electrode contact-points and removing a portion of said support member containing at least one of said contact-points;

(c) locating a remaining portion of said support member comprising said integrated circuit, for measuring analog EEG signals, having originated from within a patient, through said electrode contact-points of said remaining portion; and

(d) prior to transmitting information about said analog EEG signals to a host processing unit, converting said analog EEG signals into digital signals using circuitry of said integrated circuit.

20. The method of claim 19:

(a) further comprising, after said step of converting said analog EEG signals and prior to a step of electrically transmitting said digital signals from said integrated circuit, the steps of;

filtering and processing said digital signals; and

(b) wherein said step of electrically transmitting from said integrated circuit comprises;

transmitting said digital signals from said integrated circuit through a lead assembly having wiring for a ground reference and for supplying power, and transmitting through a quick-connect mechanism to a host processing unit.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising, after said step of converting said analog EEG signals, a step of wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic waves comprising information about said digital signals, outwardly from an antenna wiring in electrical communication with said integrated circuit to a host processing unit.