BRAIDED ELECTRODES

• US 20090099441A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Drexel University
• Original Assignee: Drexel University, Philadelphia Health Education Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Heejae, Ko, Frank K., Udoekwere, Ubong Ime, Giszter, Simon
• Application Number:
  US12/065,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099441A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.

Abstract

Electrodes for intracorporeal and other uses are provided. The invention features sterilizable, braided electrodes which are formed of or include conductive elements in electronic communication with a plurality of sites for electrical stimulation or sensing. Other active elements may be included in the braided electrodes.

Claims

1. A sterilizable electrode comprising a braid and having a plurality of electrically independent conductors, at least some of the conductors being in electrical communication with a plurality of sites on the electrode for sensing or stimulation.

2. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the braid is tubular, flat, or figured.

3. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said configuration has an alterable compliance.

4. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said configuration has an alterable shape.

5. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a generator wherein the generator send electrical signals to the sites in a pre-selected spatial and temporal pattern.

6. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductors forms part of the braid.

7. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductors is laid into the braid.

8. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is a monofilament.

9. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor has a length that is at least 100 times greater than its diameter.

10. The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are monofilaments.

11. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is greater than 1 μ

m in diameter.

12. The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are greater than 1 μ

m in diameter.

13. The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are less than 1 μ

m in diameter.

14. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is less than 100 nm in diameter.

15. The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are less than 100 nm in diameter.

16. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least some of the conductors comprises metal, conductive polymer, conductive protein, or a conductive nanotube or nanofilament.

17. The electrode of claim 1 in which at least a portion of the braid comprises fibroin, keratin, collagen, elastin, poly-L-lactic acid, polylysine, polyethylene oxide, polyaniline, a blend of polyethylene oxide/polyaniline , polyacrylonitrile, poly-ethylene-dioxythiophene, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):

poly(styrenesulfonate), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polyacrylonitrile, polyaniline, or polylactic-co-glycolic acid.

18. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor comprises nichrome or stainless steel.

19. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductors comprise lithium doped polyanaline.

20. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor comprises carbon nanotubes.

21. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising shape memory polymers or shape memory metals

22. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductors are insulated with TEFLON®

or Parylene-C.

23. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the electrode further comprises a fiberoptic fiber strand

24. The electrode of claim 23 wherein the fiberoptic fiber strand comprises quartz.

25. The electrode of claim 23 wherein the fiberoptic strand is sputter-coated with any metal, gold, platinum, silver, iridium, or combinations thereof.

26. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a cannula, catheter, or other surgical device

27. The electrode of claim 1 comprising a biodegradable material.

28. The electrode of claim 27 wherein the biodegradable material comprises vicryl, sucrose, dextrose, carbowax, mannose, or polyethylene glycol.

29. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a material that is dissolvable.

30. The electrode of claim 1 further comprising quantum dots.

31. The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is hollow.

32. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said electrode forms at least one triode, tetrode, or polytrode.

33. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said recording or stimulating sites are inside the braid.

34. The electrode of claim 1 wherein said braid forms a part of a composite structure.

51. The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form has an alterable compliance.

35. A sterilizable electrode comprising a plurality of braids and having a plurality of electrically independent conductors, at least some of the conductors being in electrical communication with a plurality of sites on the electrode for sensing or stimulation.

36. The electrode of claim 35 wherein the plurality of braids are arranged in an array.

37. The electrode of claim 35 wherein the plurality of braids are arranged in a cuff configuration.

38. A method of forming a sterilizable electrode comprising:

braiding a plurality of fibers onto, over or within a braiding form to form a braided structure, wherein at least some of the fibers are independently conductive; and

modifying at least some of the fibers to expose them to the environment, such exposure taking place at a plurality of sites;

the fibers being biocompatible and able to withstand sterilization.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising a plurality of independent conductors being laid into the braid.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising modifying at least some of the conductors by exposing them to the environment.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising mechanically altering the compliance of the braid.

42. The method of claim 38 further comprising mechanically altering the shape of the braid.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is hollow.

44. The method of claim 38 wherein said fibers are braiding as a Chinese finger trap.

45. The method of claim 38 further comprising braiding a plurality of shape memory polymers within the braided structure.

46. The method of claim 38 further comprising braiding a plurality of shape memory metals within the braided structure.

47. The method of claim 38 further comprising microelectromechanical systems within the braided structure.

48. The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is biodegradable or dissolvable.

49. The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form has shape memory properties.

50. The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is conductive.

52. The method of claim 38 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form with adhesive.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form with biodegradable or dissolvable material.