Functional ferrule

• US 20080140149A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Tcheng, Thomas K., Wingeier, Brett, Pless, Benjamin D., John, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole

Abstract

Described here are intracranial ferrules, systems, and methods for sensing and stimulating neural tissues. The ferrules are generally designed to include a holding area for retaining an implantable device. In some variations, the ferrule itself may perform the sensing and stimulating functions. In other variations, the ferrule may function to sense data from neural tissues and the implantable device may function to stimulate neural tissues. In yet other variations, the ferrule may function to stimulate, and the implantable device may function to sense data from, the neural tissues. The sensing and stimulating functions may be used to detect and/or treat various neurological conditions.

Claims

1. An intracranial ferrule comprising a dorsal surface, a ventral surface, and a holding area for retaining an implantable device, wherein the ferrule has one or more modulators configured to perform a function on a neural tissue.

2. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators comprise a sensing element configured to sense data from a neural tissue.

3. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensed data is selected from the group consisting of EEG data, neuronal recordings, ultrasound and doppler shift ultrasound data, oximetry data, optical sensing data, blood pressure recordings, impedance measurements, measurements of blood gases or chemical composition, measurements of temperature and acceleration, measurements of emitted or absorbed radiation, and combinations thereof.

4. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises an optical sensor.

5. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises an electrical sensor.

6. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises a chemical sensor.

7. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises a thermal sensor.

8. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises a pressure sensor.

9. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element comprises a sonic sensor.

10. The intracranial ferrule of claim 2 wherein the sensing element is configured to detect a neurological condition.

11. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators comprise a stimulation element configured to stimulate a neural tissue.

12. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises an optical stimulator.

13. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises an electrical stimulator.

14. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises a chemical stimulator.

15. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the chemical stimulator is configured to deliver a therapeutic agent to the neural tissue.

16. The intracranial ferrule of claim 15 wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium chelators, chemotherapeutic agents, cytokines, genetic therapy agents, immunotherapeutic agents, ion channel blockers, ion channel activators, neuropeptides, neuroregulators such as neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, nutrients, receptor agonists, receptor antagonists, photoreactive/electroactive compounds, and combinations thereof.

17. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises a thermal stimulator.

18. The intracranial ferrule of claim 17 wherein the thermal stimulator is configured to cool the neural tissue.

19. The intracranial ferrule of claim 17 wherein the thermal stimulator is configured to provide heat to the neural tissue.

20. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises a pressure stimulator.

21. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element comprises a sonic stimulator.

22. The intracranial ferrule of claim 11 wherein the stimulation element is configured to treat a neurological condition.

23. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the dorsal surface.

24. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the ventral surface.

25. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 further comprising an extracranially located heat sink tab.

26. The intracranial ferrule of claim 25 wherein the heat sink tab is connected to a skull-mounted heat sink.

27. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the ferrule further comprises one or more connectors configured to reversibly attach the ferrule to the implantable device.

28. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein the implantable device comprises a neurostimulator.

29. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 wherein a portion of the ferrule is configured to reversibly attach to a power supply.

30. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 further comprising a conduit storage area.

31. The intracranial ferrule of claim 30 wherein the conduit storage area comprises at least one conduit anchor.

32. The intracranial ferrule of claim 1 further comprises a wall portion and one or more cranial attachment tabs coupled to the wall portion.

33. A system for treating a neurological condition comprising an implantable device and an intracranial ferrule for retaining the implantable device, wherein the ferrule has a dorsal surface, a ventral surface, and one or more modulators configured to perform a function on a neural tissue.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the implantable device comprises a neurostimulator.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the implantable device comprises one or more interface connectors configured to reversibly secure it to the ferrule.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the implantable device comprises a control subsystem configured to coordinate sensing and stimulating functions of the ferrule.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the one or more modulators comprise a sensing element configured to sense data from a neural tissue.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensed data is selected from the group consisting of EEG data, neuronal recordings, ultrasound and doppler shift ultrasound data, oximetry data, optical sensing data, blood pressure recordings, impedance measurements, measurements of blood gases or chemical composition, measurements of temperature and acceleration, measurements of emitted or absorbed radiation, and combinations thereof.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises an optical sensor.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises an electrical sensor.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises a chemical sensor.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises a thermal sensor.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises a pressure sensor.

45. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element comprises a sonic sensor.

46. The system of claim 38 wherein the sensing element is configured to detect a neurological condition.

47. The system of claim 33 wherein the system further comprises one or more stimulation probes.

48. The system of claim 33 wherein the system further comprises one or more sensing probes.

49. The system of claim 33 wherein the one or more modulators comprise a stimulation element configured to stimulate a neural tissue.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises an optical stimulator.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises an electrical stimulator.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises a chemical stimulator.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the chemical stimulator is configured to deliver a therapeutic agent to the neural tissue.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium chelators, chemotherapeutic agents, cytokines, genetic therapy agents, immunotherapeutic agents, ion channel blockers, ion channel activators, neuropeptides, neuroregulators such as neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, nutrients, receptor agonists, receptor antagonists, photoreactive/electroactive compounds, and combinations thereof.

55. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises a thermal stimulator.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the thermal stimulator is configured to cool the neural tissue.

57. The system of claim 55 wherein the thermal stimulator is configured to provide heat to the neural tissue.

58. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises a pressure stimulator.

59. The system of claim 49 wherein the stimulation element comprises a sonic stimulator.

60. The system of claim 33 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the dorsal surface of the ferrule.

61. The system of claim 33 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the ventral surface of the ferrule.

37. The system of clam 33 wherein the ferrule comprises one or more retainer tabs for reversibly securing the implantable device within the ferrule.

62. A method for manipulating a neural tissue comprising placing a ferrule having one or more modulators within a portion of the cranium or a body tissue proximate the cranium, and performing a function on the neural tissue.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the function comprises sensing data from the neural tissue.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the sensed data is selected from the group consisting of EEG data, neuronal recordings, ultrasound and doppler shift ultrasound data, oximetry data, optical sensing data, blood pressure recordings, impedance measurements, measurements of blood gases or chemical composition, measurements of temperature and acceleration, measurements of emitted or absorbed radiation, and combinations thereof.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein the function comprises stimulating the neural tissue.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating increases the activity of the neural tissue.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating decreases the activity of the neural tissue.

68. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating comprises electrically stimulating the neural tissue.

69. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating comprises sonically stimulating the neural tissue.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating comprises delivering a therapeutic agent to the neural tissue.

71. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating alters the temperature of the neural tissue.

72. The method of claim 65 wherein the step of stimulating alters intracranial pressure.

73. The method of claim 62 wherein the function comprises detecting a neurological condition.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the neurological condition is selected from the group consisting neurologically-mediated cardiac and cardiovascular disorders, headache disorders, inadequate cerebral perfusion, movement disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, pain, psychiatric and mood disorders, seizure disorders, spinal cord disorders, and voiding disorders.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the headache disorder is migraine headache.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein the seizure disorder is epilepsy.

77. The method of claim 62 wherein the function comprises treating a neurological condition.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein the neurological condition is selected from the group consisting neurologically-mediated cardiac and cardiovascular disorders, headache disorders, inadequate cerebral perfusion, movement disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, pain, psychiatric and mood disorders, seizure disorders, spinal cord disorders, and voiding disorders.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the headache disorder is migraine headache.

80. The method of claim 78 wherein the seizure disorder is epilepsy.

81. The method of claim 62 wherein the body tissue is a meningeal membrane.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the meningeal membrane is the dura mater.

83. The method of claim 62 wherein the neural tissue is a portion of the cerebral cortex.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the motor cortex.

85. The method of claim 83 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the premotor cortex.

86. The method of claim 83 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the sensory cortex.