Unitized electrode with three-dimensional multi-site, multi-modal capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes

• US 7,551,951 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Inventors: Bhavaraju, Naresh C., Osorio, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US11/360,656
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 606/33, 606/129, 606/130, 600/378, 607/45, 607/116
• US Class Current: 600/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin

Abstract

An electrode with three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject. The electrode includes a disk portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a shaft portion secured to and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the lower surface of the disk portion; the shaft portion having an outer surface. The disk portion and shaft portion may include one or more recording or stimulating contact surfaces structured to operatively interact with the brain of a subject. Insulating material isolates each of the recording or stimulating contact surfaces from each other. At least one conductor operatively and separately connect each of the recording or stimulating contact surfaces in communication with external apparatus. The disk portion and shaft portion are structured relative to each other to operatively provide support and anchoring for each other while providing three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject. Modified embodiments include insertible/retractable electrode wires, both contained in channels and sheathed in axially displaceable cannulae; activating mechanisms for inserting/retracting the electrode wires and/or cannulae; and multiple shaft portions.

Claims

1. An electrode with three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject, comprising:

(a) a body mechanism including;

(1) a disk portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and

(2) a hollow shaft portion secured to and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the lower surface of the disk portion;

the shaft portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

(b) at least one electrode device pivotally mounted on the inside surface of the hollow shaft portion and having a distal end structured to operatively provide recording or stimulating contact with the brain of a subject;

(c) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect the distal end of each at least one electrode device in communication with external apparatus; and

(d) at least one activating mechanism structured to operatively and selectively cause a respective at least one electrode device to insert and retract the corresponding distal end into and from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto.

2. The electrode as described in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) at least one recording or stimulating contact surface positioned on the outer surface of the hollow shaft portion; and

(b) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect each at least one recording or stimulating contact surface in communication with external apparatus.

3. An electrode with three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject, comprising:

(a) a body mechanism including;

(1) a disk portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and

(2) a hollow shaft portion secured to and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the lower surface of the disk portion;

the shaft portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

(b) at least one electrode device pivotally mounted on the inside surface of the hollow shaft portion and having a distal end structured to operatively provide recording or stimulating contact with the brain of a subject;

(c) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect the distal end of each at least one electrode device in communication with external apparatus; and

(d) at least one activating mechanism structured to operatively and selectively cause a respective at least one electrode device to insert and retract the corresponding distal end into and from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto, wherein the at least one activating mechanism includes a pair of control wires trained through the center opening wherein one of the pair of control wires causes the distal end of the respective at least one electrode device to be inserted into brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto and the other one of the pair of control wires causes the distal end of the respective at least one electrode device to be retracted from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto.

4. An electrode with three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject, comprising:

(a) a body mechanism including;

(1) a disk portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and

(2) a hollow shaft portion secured to and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the lower surface of the disk portion;

the shaft portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

(b) at least one electrode device pivotally mounted on the inside surface of the hollow shaft portion and having a distal end structured to operatively provide recording or stimulating contact with the brain of a subject;

(c) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect the distal end of each at least one electrode device in communication with external apparatus; and

(d) at least one activating mechanism structured to operatively and selectively cause a respective at least one electrode device to insert and retract the corresponding distal end into and from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto, wherein the at least one activating mechanism includes a stepper motor structured to operatively and selectively cause the distal end of the respective at least one electrode device to be inserted into and retracted from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto.

5. An electrode with three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject, comprising:

(a) a body mechanism including;

(1) a disk portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and

(2) a hollow shaft portion secured to and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the lower surface of the disk portion;

the shaft portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

(b) at least one electrode device pivotally mounted on the inside surface of the hollow shaft portion and having a distal end structured to operatively provide recording or stimulating contact with the brain of a subject;

(c) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect the distal end of each at least one electrode device in communication with external apparatus;

(d) at least one activating mechanism structured to operatively and selectively cause a respective at least one electrode device to insert and retract the corresponding distal end into and from brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent thereto;

(e) at least one channel formed in the disk portion and shaft portion wherein each at least one channel has an upper end and a lower end and wherein the upper end exits generally perpendicularly from the upper surface of the disk portion and the lower end exits generally perpendicularly from the outer surface of the shaft portion;

(f) at least one electrode wire structured to be operatively and slidably inserted through the at least one channel such that a distal end of the electrode wire can be selectively inserted into brain tissue of the subject spaced adjacent to the lower end of the respective channel;

(g) insulating material isolating each at least one electrode wire; and

(h) at least one conductor structured to operatively and separately connect each at least one electrode wire in communication with external apparatus; and

(i) wherein the disk portion and the shaft portion are structured relative to each other to operatively provide support and anchoring for each other while providing three-dimensional capabilities for detection and control of brain state changes of a subject.

6. The electrode as described in claim 5, further including a cannula slidably inserted through each at least one channel between the at least one channel and the electrode wire therein such that the cannula and the electrode wire are separately and selectively lengthwise slidable relative to each other and to the channel.

7. The electrode as described in claim 5, further including:

(h) a first activating mechanism for separately extending and retracting the at least one cannula relative to the respective channel and electrode wire therethrough to extend and retract the respective distal end of the cannula into and from brain tissue spaced adjacent to the lower end of the respective channel; and

(i) a second activating mechanism for separately extending and retracting the electrode wire relative to the respective channel and cannula therethrough to extend and retract the respective distal end of the electrode wire into and from brain tissue spaced adjacent to the lower end of the respective channel.