PROBE INSERTION DEVICE FOR IMPLANTING A PROBE INTO TISSUE

• US 20090312770A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Kipke, Daryl R., Subbaroyan, Jeyakumar, Kozai, Takashi Daniel Yoshida
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• 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

A probe insertion device for implanting a probe into tissue includes a rigid base that selectively attaches to the probe due to a bond between the base and the probe, that provides a structural backbone to the probe, is longitudinally aligned with the probe, and can be adapted to receive a fluid between the base and the probe. The probe insertion device can include a surface covering at least a portion of the base that reduces the bond between the base and the probe in the presence of the fluid.

Claims

1. A probe insertion device for implanting a probe into tissue, comprising:

a rigid base that selectively attaches to the probe due to a bond between the base and the probe and provides a structural backbone to the probe;

wherein the base is generally longitudinally aligned with the probe;

wherein the rigid base is adapted to receive a fluid between the base and the probe; and

a surface covering at least a portion of the base that reduces the bond between the base and the probe in the presence of the fluid, thereby allowing the detachment of the base from the probe.

2. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the rigid base selectively attaches to the probe due to a hydrophobic interaction between the base and the probe.

3. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the rigid base selectively attaches to the probe due to a chemical bond between the base and the probe selected from the group consisting of covalent bonds, ionic bonds, metallic bonds, van der Waals bonds, and hydrogen bonds.

4. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the base includes a generally straight blade.

5. The probe insertion device of claim 4, wherein the edges of the base are flush with or extend beyond the edges of the probe.

6. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the base is made of a hydrophobic material.

7. The probe insertion device of claim 6, wherein the base is made of silicon.

8. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one of a groove and a ridge that decreases the area of contact between the base and the probe.

9. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the base includes a channel that delivers the fluid to the base.

10. The probe insertion device of claim 1, further comprising artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and wherein the rigid base is adapted to receive the artificial cerebrospinal fluid.

11. The probe insertion device of claim 1, wherein the surface includes a coating;

wherein the coating includes a chemical modifier layer that reduces the bond between the base and the probe.

12. The probe insertion device of claim 11, wherein the chemical modifier layer is a hydrophilic self-assembled monolayer.

13. The probe insertion device of claim 12, wherein the hydrophilic self-assembled monolayer provides a carboxyl group.

14. The probe insertion device of claim 11, wherein the coating further includes at least one base layer that facilitates the formation of the chemical modifier layer.

15. The probe insertion device of claim 14, wherein the base layer includes gold.

16. The probe insertion device of claim 11, wherein the coating further includes at least one substrate layer that enhances the application of the base layer.

17. The probe insertion device of claim 16, wherein the substrate layer includes titanium.

18. The probe insertion device of claim 1, further comprising a probe, wherein the probe includes an insertable end implantable into tissue;

and wherein the base is flush with or extends beyond the insertable end of the probe.

19. The probe insertion device of claim 18, wherein the probe is made of a nonrigid material selected from the group consisting of a compressive material and a flexible material.

20. The probe insertion device of claim 19, wherein the probe includes a hydrophobic surface.

21. A method of implanting a probe into tissue, comprising the steps:

attaching a rigid base to the probe, thereby providing a structural backbone to the probe;

inserting at least a portion of the probe into the tissue;

decoupling at least a portion of the probe from the base;

allowing a fluid to flow between the base and the probe to induce detachment of the base from the probe; and

withdrawing the base from the tissue.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of attaching a base to the probe includes attaching the base to the probe with at least one chemical bond selected from the group consisting of electrostatic forces, covalent bonds, ionic bonds, metallic bonds, van der Waals bonds, and hydrogen bonds.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of allowing a fluid to flow between the base and the probe includes introducing a fluid that reduces the chemical bond between the base and the probe.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of decoupling at least a portion of the probe from the base includes peeling a portion of the probe from the base.

25. A probe insertion assembly for implanting a probe into tissue, comprising:

a flexible neural probe including an insertable end that is implantable into tissue, wherein the probe is made of a hydrophobic polymer;

a rigid silicon microelectrode base that attaches to the probe due to electrostatic attraction and provides a structural backbone to the probe;

wherein the base includes a single shank that gradually tapers;

wherein the edges of the base are flush with or extend beyond the edges of the probe;

wherein the probe and the base are generally longitudinally aligned and the base extends beyond the insertable end of the probe;

wherein the base is adapted to receive artificial cerebrospinal fluid between the base and the probe; and

a coating covering at least a portion of the base;

wherein the coating includes a layer of 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid that reduces electrostatic attraction between the base and the probe in the presence of artificial cerebrospinal fluid;

wherein the coating further includes a layer of gold that facilitates formation of the 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid layer;

wherein the coating further includes a layer of titanium that enhances the application of the gold layer.