Self-locking cerebral electrical probe
First Claim
1. A probe for electroencephalographic exploration of a patient'"'"'s brain after being secured to the patient'"'"'s brain-pan, comprising:
- a flexible tube of small diameter for insertion to a given depth in the brain of a patient;
at least two electrically conductive rings spaced along the flexible tube at relatively small distances from one another for detecting electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain;
a terminal block located outside the tube and having a plurality of terminals;
a plurality of insulated electrical conductors located inside the flexible tube, each conductor connecting one of the conductive rings to one of the terminals of the terminal block;
a removable stylet inserted inside the flexible tube for giving rigidity to the flexible tube and for enabling a directional insertion thereof into the brain whereby when the stylet is removed from the flexible tube after the tube has been inserted into the brain flexibility returns to the tube, the flexible tube and stylet each having one end for insertion into the patient'"'"'s brain and a free end opposite the one end; and
a self-locking, rigid anchor, the anchor including means for securing the anchor with respect to the brain-pan and means for quickly and firmly fixing the flexible tube to said anchor after the tube has been inserted to a given depth in the brain.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-locking encephalic electrical probe is used for stereoelectroencephalographic exploration in the treatment of epilepsy or other brain diseases. The probe includes a long, hollow, flexible tube of small diameter, preferably made of medium density polyethylene. A series of at least two electrically conductive rings, preferably made of silver, are located close to one another along the tube for detecting the electrical activity of nerve cells. A series of insulated electrical conductors are located inside the hollow tube, each conductor connecting a conductive ring to a multi-contact terminal located outside the hollow tube. A removable stylet is inserted into the hollow tube to give it rigidity and to control the direction of introduction of the probe into the brain. The stylet is removed from the tube to restore flexibility to the tube after the probe has been introduced in the brain. A self-locking rigid anchor preferably made of stainless steel holds the probe in place. The anchor is funnel-shaped and quickly and firmly fixes the hollow tube to the brain-pan of the patient after the probe has been introduced to the selected depth in the brain. The probe is used in conjunction with other probes for transmitting to a receptor the cerebral activity of the patient which is recorded and analyzed. As a result of this analysis, a medical staff may accurately locate the region of the brain that must be operated upon to cure the patient.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A probe for electroencephalographic exploration of a patient'"'"'s brain after being secured to the patient'"'"'s brain-pan, comprising:
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a flexible tube of small diameter for insertion to a given depth in the brain of a patient; at least two electrically conductive rings spaced along the flexible tube at relatively small distances from one another for detecting electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain; a terminal block located outside the tube and having a plurality of terminals; a plurality of insulated electrical conductors located inside the flexible tube, each conductor connecting one of the conductive rings to one of the terminals of the terminal block; a removable stylet inserted inside the flexible tube for giving rigidity to the flexible tube and for enabling a directional insertion thereof into the brain whereby when the stylet is removed from the flexible tube after the tube has been inserted into the brain flexibility returns to the tube, the flexible tube and stylet each having one end for insertion into the patient'"'"'s brain and a free end opposite the one end; and a self-locking, rigid anchor, the anchor including means for securing the anchor with respect to the brain-pan and means for quickly and firmly fixing the flexible tube to said anchor after the tube has been inserted to a given depth in the brain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for conducting an electroencephalographic exploration of a patient'"'"'s brain comprising a telemetric system, a telemetric receiver, and a probe coupled with said telemetric system so that information detected by the probe is transmitted by the telemetric system to the telemetric receiver, the telemetric receiver including means for decoding and recoding the transmitted information, the probe being for insertion into a patient'"'"'s brain and being for attachment to the patient'"'"'s brain-pan, the probe comprising:
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a flexible tube of small diameter for insertion to a given depth in the brain of a patient; at least two electrically conductive rings spaced along the flexible tube at relatively small distances from one another for detecting electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain; a terminal block located outside the tube and having a plurality of terminals; a plurality of insulated electrical conductors located inside the flexible tube, each conductor connecting one of the conductive rings to one of the terminals of the terminal block, the telemetric system being connected to the terminal block; a removable stylet inserted inside the flexible tube for giving rigidity to the flexible tube and for enabling a directional insertion thereof into the brain, whereby, when the stylet is removed from the flexible tube after the tube has been inserted into the brain, flexibility returns to the tube; and a self-locking, rigid anchor, the anchor including means for securing the anchor with respect to the brain pan and means for quickly and firmly fixing the flexible tube to said anchor after the tube has been inserted to a given depth in the brain.
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8. A method of conducting an electroencephalographic exploration of a patient'"'"'s brain comprising the steps of:
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(a) boring a hole through the patient'"'"'s scalp, scalp muscle and skull to the level of the tubula of the brain; (b) inserting a hollow guide through the hole and anchoring the guide to the skull; (c) inserting a flexible probe stiffened by a rigid stylet through the internal tubula and into the brain, said flexible probe being electrically sensitive through the hollow guide; (d) restoring flexibility to the probe by withdrawing the rigid stylet from the probe; (e) securing the probe to the guide; and (f) monitoring electrical activity within the brain by detecting electrical signals with the probe. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification