Grooved electrode and wireless microtransponder system

• US 20080319506A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Transponder Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MicroTransponder Inc.
• Inventors: Cauller, Lawrence James
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0536 Preventing neurodegenerative response or inflammatory reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes

Abstract

A grooved electrode adapted for interfacing cellular matter is provided. The grooved electrode includes grooves adapted for electrically interfacing the grooved electrode with cellular matter growing along the body of the grooved electrode. Further, the grooved electrode includes a wireless transponder adapted to electrically interface with cellular matter and to relay such interactions via RF signals. The RF signals received by the wireless transponder are modulated in response to electrical signals generated by the cellular matter, which are detected by the transponder. The grooved electrode may be implanted within peripheral nerves for treating various neurological conditions, which may include nerve rehabilitation and prosthetic actuation, severe pain, obstructive sleep apnea and so forth.

Claims

1. An electrode, comprising:

a body member comprising a biocompatible material; and

grooves extending along the body member, wherein the grooves are adapted to electrically interface the body member with the cellular matter growing along the body member.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), parylene, polyurethane of polycarbonate and/or a combination thereof.

3. The electrode of claim 1, comprising a wireless transponder enclosed by the body member.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the grooves extend along an outer portion of the body member.

5. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the grooves extend along an inner portion of the body member.

6. The electrode of claim 1, comprising electrode leads disposed along the recessed floor of the grooves, wherein the grooves are adapted to limit the growth of nerve fibers for electrically interfacing the electrodes.

7. The electrode of claim 6, wherein the electrode leads are formed of carbon nano-tubes.

8. The electrode of claim 1, comprising neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the electrode.

9. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the length of the body member is less than two millimeters.

10. The electrode of claim 1, comprising wire leads extending from the body member, wherein the wire leads are adapted to electrically connect the body member to systems external to the body member.

11. A system for interfacing cellular matter, comprising:

a grooved electrode comprising a biocompatible material adapted to be coupled to a peripheral nerve; and

a wireless transponder encased within the body member;

wherein the wireless transponder is adapted to electrically interface with the peripheral nerve.

12. The system of claim 11, comprising cellular matter grown along the outer portion of the body member.

13. The system of claim 11, comprising cellular matter grown along the inner portion of the body member.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless transponder is external to the body member.

15. The system of claim 11, comprising grooves extending along inner portions of the member or along outer portions of the body member.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising electrode leads disposed along the grooves.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrode leads are formed of carbon nano-tubes.

18. The system of claim 11, comprising neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the body member.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the length of the body member is less than two millimeters.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the transponder is powered by electromagnetic signals.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the transponder comprises a microcoil with a core formed of a nano-crystalline magnetic alloy.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the transponder comprises a sensor adapted for detecting neural spike signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises a field effect transistor (FET).

24. A system for interfacing cellular matter, comprising:

at least one wireless transponder coupled to at least one grooved electrode implantable within a peripheral nerve;

a transmitter external to the peripheral nerve adapted to generate a first electromagnetic signal received by the at least one wireless transponder;

a receiver external to the peripheral nerve adapted to receive a second electromagnetic signal generated by the at least one wireless transponder in response to an electrical signal generated by the peripheral nerve; and

wherein the second electromagnetic signal is a modulation of the first electromagnetic signal.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one electrode encases the wireless transponder.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one transponder is external to the at least one electrode.

27. The systems of claim 24, wherein the at least one electrode comprises grooves through which cellular mater can grow.

28. The system of claim 24, comprising a spectrum analyzer and a processor for identifying the modulation of the second electromagnetic signal.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one wireless transponder is adapted to stimulate the cellular matter via the first electromagnetic signal.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one wireless transponder is powered by the first electromagnetic signal.

31. A method for interfacing cellular matter, comprising:

generating an electromagnetic signal exterior to a peripheral nerve;

modulating the electromagnetic signal in response to an electrical signal generated by the peripheral nerve; and

receiving the modulated electromagnetic signal.

32. The method of claim 31, comprising powering a wireless transponder for sensing the electrical signals generated by the cellular matter.

33. The method of claim 31, comprising analyzing the received modulated signals to determine the modulation signal.

34. The method of claim 31, comprising analyzing the modulated signal to determine its origin within the cellular matter.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the cellular matter comprises peripheral nerves.

36. The method of claim 31, comprising processing the received modulated signals to provide feedback electromagnetic signals for stimulating wireless transponders implanted within the cellular matter, biomechanical systems coupled to the cellular matter, or a combination thereof.

37. The method of claim 31, comprising opening a gate of a field effect transistor (FET) to modulate the carrier signal in response to the electrical signals generated by the cellular matter.

38. The method claim 31, comprising drawing power from the carrier signal to create potential difference across the FET.

39. A method for treating pain, comprising

implanting a wireless transponder within a peripheral nerve of a patient;

and

transmitting electromagnetic signals to the transponder to electrically stimulate the peripheral nerve, causing paresthesia of a painful area in the patient.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the transponder is enclosed within a biocompatible material adapted to be implanted within the peripheral nerves.

41. A method for treating obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

implanting a wireless transponder within a hypoglossal nerve of a patient; and

transmitting electromagnetic signals to the transponder to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve when occlusion of upper airway of the patient occurs.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the transponder is enclosed within a biocompatible material adapted to be implanted within the peripheral nerves.