Functional Ferrule

• US 20100217341A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• 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 8,140,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• 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. A method for manipulating a neural tissue comprising:

placing a ferrule within a portion of the cranium or a neural tissue proximate the cranium, the ferrule including a bottom portion having a dorsal surface and a ventral surface, the ventral surface being adjacent the neural tissue, the ferrule further including a holding area attached to the bottom portion adjacent the dorsal surface for retaining an implantable device therein, and including one or more modulators disposed on the bottom portion, the one or more modulators configured to be coupled to the implantable device while the holding area retains the implantable device therein; and

performing a function using the one or modulators on the neural tissue adjacent the one or more modulators.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the function comprises sensing data from the neural tissue.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein sensing data is performed by sensor probes in the one or more modulators.

4. The method 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.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the function comprises stimulating the neural tissue.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue increases the activity of the neural tissue.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue decreases the activity of the neural tissue.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue comprises electrically stimulating the neural tissue.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue comprises sonically stimulating the neural tissue.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue comprises delivering a therapeutic agent to the neural tissue.

11. The method of claim 10 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.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue alters the temperature of the neural tissue.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein stimulating the neural tissue alters intracranial pressure.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises detecting a neurological condition.

15. The method of claim 14 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.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the neurological condition is a headache disorder and the headache disorder includes a migraine headache.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the neurological condition is a seizure disorder and the seizure disorder is epilepsy.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises treating a neurological condition.

19. The method of claim 18 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.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the neurological condition is a headache disorder and the headache disorder includes migraine headache.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the neurological condition is a seizure disorder and the seizure disorder is epilepsy.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the neural tissue is a meningeal membrane.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the meningeal membrane is the dura mater.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the neural tissue is a portion of the cerebral cortex.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the motor cortex.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the premotor cortex.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the portion of the cerebral cortex is the sensory cortex.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the dorsal surface.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more modulators are configured as a grid on the ventral surface.

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

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the implantable device comprises a neurostimulator.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing an implantable device in the holding area of the ferrule.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the ferrule further comprises:

a wall portion attached to and extending upwardly from the dorsal surface of the bottom portion and disposed around a portion of the holding area, and

one or more cranial attachment tabs coupled to the wall portion and configured to secure the intracranial ferrule to a cranium in an orientation having the ventral surface of the bottom portion adjacent the neural tissue and to prevent movement of the ferrule while the implantable device is placed into the holding area and coupled to the ferrule or removed from the holding area and decoupled from the ferrule.

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

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

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

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