Neural Interface System

• US 20080208283A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hetke, Jamille, Kipke, Daryl, Anderson, David, Vetter, Rio, Pellinen, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008

Abstract

The neural interface system of the preferred embodiments includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites and a carrier that supports the electrode array. The electrode array is coupled to the carrier such that the electrode sites are arranged both circumferentially around the carrier and axially along the carrier. A group of the electrode sites may be simultaneously activated to create an activation pattern. The system of the preferred embodiment is preferably designed for deep brain stimulation, and, more specifically, for deep brain stimulation with fine electrode site positioning, selectivity, tunability, and precise activation patterning. The system of the preferred embodiments, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment (such as the spinal cord, peripheral nerve, muscle, or any other suitable anatomical location) and for any suitable reason.

Claims

1. A neural interface system, comprising:

an electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites that electrically communicate with their surroundings;

wherein the plurality of electrode sites includes a subset of stimulation electrode sites and a subset of recording electrode sites; and

a carrier that supports the electrode array;

wherein the electrode array is coupled to the carrier such that the plurality of electrode sites are arranged both circumferentially around the carrier and axially along the carrier.

2. The neural interface system of claim 1 further including a second electrode array having a second plurality of electrode sites that electrically communicate with their surroundings and a second carrier that supports the second electrode array.

3. The neural interface system of claim 2 further including a guiding element that positions the electrode arrays in a three dimensional arrangement.

4. The neural interface system of claim 1 wherein there the subset of stimulation electrode sites includes at least thirty-two stimulation electrode sites and the subset of recording electrode sites includes at least sixteen recording electrode sites.

5. The neural interface system of claim 4 wherein the subset of stimulation electrode sites are positioned such that at least two sites are spaced around the circumference of the carrier at each axial location and such that at least eight sites are spaced along the axis of the carrier at each circumferential location, and wherein at least two recording electrode sites are located between each row of stimulation electrode sites and are positioned on opposite sides of the carrier from one another.

6. The neural interface system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is cylindrical.

7. The neural interface system of claim 6 wherein the carrier further includes fluidic channels adapted to transmit fluid.

8. The neural interface system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is a flexible polymer.

9. The neural interface system of claim 1 further including a second electrical subsystem that operates with the electrode.

10. The neural interface system of claim 9 further including a connector that couples the electrode array to the second electrical subsystem.

11. The neural interface system of claim 10 wherein the connector is a polymer ribbon cable.

12. The neural interface system of claim 10 wherein the connector further includes fluidic channels adapted to transmit fluid.

13. The neural interface system of claim 1 wherein the electrode array is made from a thin-film substrate and the plurality of electrode sites is located at a first end of the electrode array and bonding regions are located at a second end of the electrode array, wherein conductive interconnects couple the plurality of electrode sites on the first end of the electrode array to the bonding regions on the second end of the electrode array.

14. The neural interface system of claim 13 wherein the electrode array further includes metal traces positioned between a first layer of polymer and a second layer of polymer, wherein the metal traces include the plurality of electrode sites, the bonding regions, and conductive interconnects.

15. The neural interface system of claim 14 wherein the conductive interconnects are adapted such that the width of the conductive interconnect is proportional to the length of the conductive interconnect, such that the resistance is generally equal across all conductive interconnects.

16. A method of creating a pattern of tissue medium excitation comprising the steps of:

providing an electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites that electrically communicate with their surroundings;

simultaneously activating of a group of electrode sites and thereby creating an activation pattern;

generating an electric field in the tissue medium having a spatial distribution of current density; and

influencing the pattern of tissue medium excitation.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each of the electrode sites are activated with an independent activation intensity.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a first activation pattern is created by activating a first group of electrode sites, wherein the first group of electrode sites includes each of the electrode sites around the circumference of the carrier at a particular axial location.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein a second activation pattern is created by activating a second group of electrode sites, wherein the second group of electrode sites includes electrode sites at multiple axial locations and less than each of the electrode sites around the circumference of the carrier at a particular axial location.

20. The neural interface system of claim 19, wherein the second activation pattern is modulated with the activation of a third group of electrode sites.

21. A method of assembling a neural interface system comprising the steps of:

providing a electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites that electrically communicate with their surroundings;

providing a connector;

connecting the electrode array to the connector; and

injection molding a silicon element having an end portion;

wherein the silicon element encases the connector and the end portion of the silicon element is coupled to the electrode array.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the electrode array is a planar electrode array and the method further comprises the step of pre-forming the planar array into a 3-dimensional form.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of pre-forming the planar array into a 3-dimensional form is accomplished by the steps of positioning the planar electrode array in a mold and tempering the mold and electrode array.

24. A neural interface system, comprising:

an electrode array having a plurality of electrode sites that electrically communicate with their surroundings;

wherein the plurality of electrode sites includes a subset of at least thirty-two stimulation electrode sites and a subset of at least sixteen recording electrode sites; and

a carrier that supports the electrode array;

wherein the electrode array is coupled to the carrier such the subset of stimulation electrode sites are positioned such that at least two sites are spaced around the circumference of the carrier at each axial location and such that at least eight sites are spaced along the axis of the carrier at each circumferential location, and wherein at least two recording electrode sites are located between each row of stimulation electrode sites and are positioned on opposite sides of the carrier from one another.