Implantable electrode manufactured with flexible printed circuit

• US 6,024,702 A
• Filed: 09/03/1997
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PMT Corporation
• Original Assignee: PMT Corporation
• Inventors: Iversen, Alfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/922,935
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 600/373, 600/377, 600/378, 600/329, 600/483
• US Class Current: 600/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions

Abstract

An implantable electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation comprises a flexible electrode body for contacting human body tissue, a connector portion having a plurality of connectors for connection to external monitoring equipment, the connector portion connected to the electrode body, both the electrode body and the connector portion being comprised of a thin, flexible, non-conducting backing material, a printed circuit etched onto the flexible backing material, the printed circuit further comprising a plurality of electrical contact areas of a conductive material for contacting the tissue, and a plurality of electrical leads connecting the electrical contact areas to the connectors, and a flexible, non-conducting covering material covering the printed circuit, the electrical contact areas extending through the covering material. A method of manufacture of the electrode is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrode for implantation into the human body for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation, the electrode comprising:

(a) a flexible electrode body;

(b) a connector portion having a plurality of connectors for connection to external monitoring equipment, said connector portion being unitary with said electrode body;

(c) said electrode body and said connector portion having a thin, flexible, non-conducting backing material;

(d) a printed circuit formed on said flexible backing material, said printed circuit further comprising a plurality of electrical contact areas of a flexible conductive material for contacting the tissue, and a plurality of electrical leads connecting said electrical contact areas to said connectors of said connector portion, each said electrical contact area having a height; and

(e) a flexible, non-conducting covering material covering said printed circuit, said flexible covering material having a thickness less than said electrical contact area height, said electrical contact areas protruding through said covering material whereby said protruding contact areas provide a means to contact the tissue to be monitored and stimulated.

2. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode body is flat and elongated.

3. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the flexible, non-conducting backing material further comprises mylar.

4. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the flexible, non-conducting backing material further comprises silicone.

5. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact areas further comprise a metal.

6. The implantable electrode of claim 5, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, and platinum/iridium.

7. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the flexible, non-conducting covering material further comprises mylar.

8. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the flexible, non-conducting covering material further comprises silicone.

9. A method of manufacturing an electrode for implantation into the human body for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation, comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a flexible, elongated electrode body and a connector portion, said connector portion being connected to said electrode body, and both said electrode body and said connector portion being comprised of a thin, flexible, non-conducting backing material;

(b) providing a printed circuit on said flexible, non-conducting backing material, said providing of said printed circuit further comprising providing a plurality of electrical contact areas of a conductive material for contacting the tissue, a plurality of connectors for connection to external monitoring equipment, and a plurality of electrical leads connecting the electrical contact areas to the connectors; and

(c) covering the printed circuit with a flexible, non-conductive covering material having a thickness less than the height of said electrical contact areas whereby the electrical contact areas protrude through the covering material to provide a means to contact the tissue to be monitored.

10. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the electrode body produced is flat and elongated.

11. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the flexible, non-conducting backing material provided further comprises mylar.

12. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the flexible, non-conducting backing material provided further comprises silicone.

13. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the electrical contact areas provided further comprise a metal.

14. The method of manufacturing of claim 13, wherein the metal provided is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, and platinum/iridium.

15. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the flexible, non-conducting covering material provided further comprises mylar.

16. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the flexible, non-conducting covering material provided further comprises silicone.

18. The method of manufacturing of claim 9, wherein the printed circuit is provided by a means selected from the group consisting of etching and printing.

17. An implantable subdural electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation, comprising:

(a) a flexible electrode body comprised of a thin, flexible, non-conductive backing material, said electrode body having a connector portion comprised of a plurality of connectors for connection to external monitoring equipment;

(b) a printed circuit on said flexible backing material, said printed circuit further comprising a plurality of electrical contact areas of a flexible conductive material for contacting the tissue, and a plurality of electrical leads connecting said electrical contact areas to said connectors of said connector portion, each said electrical contact area having a predetermined height; and

(c) a flexible, non-conducting material covering said printed circuit, said flexible material having a thickness less than said electrical contact area height, said electrical contact areas protruding through said material whereby said protruding contact areas provide a means to contact the tissue to be monitored and stimulated.

19. The subdural electrode of claim 17, wherein said electrical contact areas are comprised of a metal.

20. The subdural electrode of claim 19, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, and platinum/iridium.

21. The subdural electrode of claim 17, wherein said covering material and said backing material are comprised of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of silicone and mylar.