Multi-modal system for detection and control of changes in brain state

• US 6,793,670 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Inventors: Osorio, Ivan, Bhavaraju, Naresh C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/683,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/99, 607/113
• US Class Current: 607/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/031 Intracranial pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• 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: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/85 Scanning probe control process

Abstract

A multi-purpose electrode mechanism for detection and control of changes in brain state includes a shaft portion and extendible elements structured for insertion into target tissue of the brain of a subject patient, cooling means configured to operatively apply cooling therapy to the target tissue, stimulation means having at least one electrical contact structured to operatively apply electrical stimulation therapy to the target tissue, sensing means including at least one sensor monitoring a biological signal of the subject patient, control means responsive to the sensing means wherein the control means is structured to, in response to signals from the sensing means that indicate the presence of a pre-determined physiological condition or occurrence of an undesirable state change, automatically cause the cooling means and/or the stimulation means to initiate or terminate the cooling therapy and/or the electrical stimulation therapy respectively and an energy source for powering the various components of the multi-purpose electrode mechanism.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose electrode mechanism for prediction or detection and control of changes in brain state, comprising;

(a) a shaft portion structured for insertion into target tissue of the brain of a subject patient;

(b) cooling means configured to operatively apply cooling therapy to the target tissue;

(c) sensing means including at least one sensor monitoring a biological signal of the subject patient;

(d) control means responsive to the sensing means wherein the control means is structured to, in response to signals from the sensing means that indicate the occurrence of a change of state, automatically cause the cooling means to initiate or terminate the cooling therapy; and

(e) an energy source for powering the various components of the multi-purpose electrode mechanism.

2. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes at least one extendable element housed within the shaft portion and structured to be extended outwardly from the shaft portion.

3. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one extendable element is extended manually.

4. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the cooling means includes motor means structured to extend the at least one extendable element outwardly from the shaft portion into the target tissue.

5. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one extendable element includes at least one cooling element constructed of a solid material having high thermal conductivity.

6. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 5, wherein the cooling means includes:

(a) a reservoir for containing coolant; and

(b) pumping means structured to pump coolant to and from the reservoir and to the at least one cooling element.

7. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 5, wherein the cooling means includes:

(a) a refrigerant source containing refrigerant at an elevated pressure;

(b) distribution means for distributing the refrigerant from the refrigerant source to the at least one cooling element; and

(c) means for removing the refrigerant from the cooling element or from the shaft portion.

8. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one extendable element includes a hollow cooling element with a closed distal end.

9. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 8, wherein the at least one cooling element includes a dividing wall extending from near the proximal end to near the distal end of the at least one cooling element that separates the at least one cooling element into side-by-side first and second channels with fluid flow communication between the first and second channels at the distal end of the at least one cooling element.

10. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 9, further including:

(a) a reservoir for containing coolant; and

(b) pumping means structured to pump coolant to and from the reservoir and through the at least one cooling element.

11. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 9, wherein the cooling means includes:

(a) a refrigerant source containing refrigerant at an elevated pressure;

(b) distribution means for distributing the refrigerant from the refrigerant source to the at least one cooling element; and

(c) means for removing the refrigerant from the cooling element or from the shaft portion.

12. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the at least one of the extendable element includes at least one sensing element; and

(b) the sensing means includes at least one sensor positioned in the at least one extendible element.

13. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes at least one sensor mounted on the shaft portion to operatively contact target tissue adjacent thereto.

14. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) stimulation means having at least one electrical contact structured to operatively apply electrical stimulation therapy to the target tissue; and

(b) the control means, in response to signals from the sensing means that indicate the occurrence or presence of a change of state, is structured to automatically cause the stimulation means to initiate or terminate the electrical stimulation therapy.

15. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes at least one thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device being cooled on the hot surface by a coolant or a refrigerant.

16. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes:

(a) a reservoir for containing coolant;

(b) an inner input tube with the shaft portion defining a cavity surrounding the inner input tube; and

(c) pumping means structured to pump coolant from the reservoir from the reservoir, to and through the inner input tube into the cavity, and from the cavity back to the reservoir.

17. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the cooling means includes:

(a) a refrigerant source containing refrigerant at an elevated pressure;

(b) an inner input tube with the shaft portion defining a cavity surrounding the inner input tube; and

(c) distribution means for distributing the refrigerant from the refrigerant source, to and through the inner input tube into the cavity, and from the cavity to venting means for venting refrigerant into a receiving means.

18. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing means and control means are structured to sense in one-, two-, and/or three-dimensional configurations.

19. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing means is structured to sense chemical signals arising from one of the group consisting of ions, neurotransmitters, proteins and pH.

20. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing means is structured to sense physical signals arising from one of the group consisting of infrared, pressure, motion/vibration and acoustics.

21. The multi-purpose electrode mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing and control means include at least one electrical sensing device and at least one thermal and electrical device.