Multiple electrode lead and a system for deep electrical neurostimulation including such a lead

• US 7,991,481 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauter-Starace, Fabien, Caillat, Patrice, Benabid, Alim Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US12/216,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes

Abstract

A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation comprising a rod of biocompatible material and a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of the rod and in alignment therewith. The blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of the two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration. The electrodes are connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod. A deep electrical neurostimulation system comprising an electrical pulse generator connected to at least one lead of the above-described type is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation, the lead comprising:

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith;

in which said blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod;

wherein said lead presents a total length lying in the range 4 cm to 10 cm.

2. A lead according to claim 1, presenting a total length lying in the range 5 cm to 8 cm.

3. A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation, the lead comprising:

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith;

in which said blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod;

wherein said lead presents a substantially planar shape, with a thickness lying in the range 25 μ

m to 3 mm.

4. A lead according to claim 3, presenting a thickness lying in the range 50 μ

m to 2 mm.

5. A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation, the lead comprising:

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith;

in which said blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod;

wherein said main faces of the blade present an area lying in the range 10 mm² to 500 mm².

6. A lead according to claim 5, wherein said main faces of the blade present an area lying in the range 20 mm² to 450 mm².

7. A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation, the lead comprising:

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith;

in which said blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod;

wherein said blade presents a sickle shape, an elliptical shape, or a shape that matches the outline of a CG25 zone of a human brain.

8. A lead for deep electrical neurostimulation, the lead comprising:

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith;

in which said blade presents two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod;

in which said electrodes present a covering of electrically-conductive multi-wall carbon nanotubes covering pellets of silicon fitted onto the surface of said electrodes.

9. A deep electrical neurostimulation system comprising:

an electrical pulse generator for deep electrical neurostimulation; and

at least one lead for deep electrical neurostimulation having its electrodes electrically connected to said electrical pulse generator,

wherein the lead comprises;

a rod of biocompatible material, having a stiffness which is sufficient for allowing its insertion into a brain of a patient; and

a blade, also of biocompatible material, secured to one end of said rod and in alignment therewith, said blade having two main faces and a plurality of electrodes disposed on at least one of said two main faces in a two-dimensional configuration, said electrodes being connected to conductor elements disposed inside or on a surface of said rod; and

wherein said electrical pulse generator is configured to generate electrical impulsion adapted for treating clinical depression by stimulating a CG25 zone of a human brain.