Displacement resistant microelectrode, microelectrode bundle and microelectrode array

• US 8,751,014 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuronano AB
• Original Assignee: Neuronano AB
• Inventors: Schouenborg, Jens, Lind, Gustav, Hirst, Christopher, Clementz, Lars-ke
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/818,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 600/373
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0536 Preventing neurodegenerative response or inflammatory reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

A medical microelectrode has a front end, a rear end and a density at 20° C. of from 0.80 to 1.15. The electrode comprises any of: electrically conductive tubiform lead comprising a metal and/or an electrically conductive polymer, the lead having an outer surface and a sealed lumen; electrically conductive wire lead comprising a metal and/or an electrically conductive polymer, the lead having a surface and a buoyant element of a density of less than 1.0 attached to the surface.

Claims

1. Medical microelectrode for implantation into soft tissue of a person or animal resistant to displacement in the tissue by inertia, the electrode having a front end, a rear end and a density at 20°

C. of from 0.80 to 1.15, in particular from 0.90 to 1.07, more particularly from 0.95 to 1.03, comprising any of;

an electrically conductive tubiform lead comprising a metal and/or an electrically conductive polymer, the lead having an outer face and a sealed lumen;

an electrically conductive wire lead comprising a metal and/or an electrically conductive polymer, the lead having a surface and a buoyant element of a density of less than 1.0 attached to the surface;

wherein a portion of the outer surface or the surface, respectively, is electrically insulated.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the density is 0.99±

0.02.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the lumen is void.

4. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the lumen comprises one or more sections filled with filler and optionally one or more void sections.

5. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the density of the filler is 0.8 or less, in particular 0.6 or less.

6. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the filler comprises a porous material.

7. The electrode of claim 4, wherein the filler comprises a polymer.

8. The electrode of claim 7, wherein the polymer is flexible, in particular resiliently flexible.

9. The electrode of claim 7, wherein the polymer comprises closed pores.

10. The electrode of claim 9, wherein the density at 20°

C. of the polymer is less than 0.8, preferably less than 0.6.

11. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the buoyant element comprises a polymer comprising closed pores.

12. The electrode of claim 11, wherein the density at 20°

C. of the polymer is less than 0.8, preferably less than 0.6.

13. The electrode of claim 11, wherein the polymer is flexible, in particular resiliently flexible.

14. The electrode of claim 1, fully or partially embedded in a matrix dissolvable or degradable in a body fluid.

15. The electrode of claim 1, comprising an electronic amplifying means and/or a microprocessor means, with the proviso that the combination of electrode and electronic amplifying/microprocessor means has a density at 20°

C. of from 0.80 to 1.15, in particular from 0.90 to 1.07, more particularly from 0.95 to 1.03.

16. The electrode of claim 15, wherein the density is 0.99±

0.02.

17. The electrode of claim 15, wherein the electronic amplifying/microprocessor means is disposed at or near the rear end.

18. The electrode of claim 1 attached at or near its rear end to an ultra-thin insulated wire for electric communication with an electronic amplifying/microprocessor means disposed at a distance therefrom.

19. The electrode of claim 18, wherein the ultra-thin insulated wire is integral with the electrode wire.

20. The electrode of claim 15, wherein said electronic amplifying/microprocessor is disposed in soft tissue of said person or animal.

21. The electrode of claim 15, wherein said electronic amplifying/microprocessor comprises a source of electric energy.

22. The electrode of claim 15, wherein said electronic amplifying/microprocessor comprises a transmitter and/or receiver transmitting and/or receiving radiation to/from a control unit disposed externally of said patient or animal.

23. The electrode of claim 1, comprising anchoring means disposed at or near its front end.

24. An electrode bundle comprising two or more electrodes of claim 1.

25. The electrode bundle of claim 24 partially or fully enclosed in a material dissolvable or degradable in a body fluid.

26. An electrode array comprising two or more electrodes of claim 1.

27. The electrode array of claim 26 partially or fully enclosed in a material dissolvable or degradable in a body fluid.

28. The electrode array of claim 27 partially or fully enclosed in a material dissolvable or degradable in a body fluid.

29. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising a sealed porous material.

30. An electrode array comprising two or more electrode bundles of claim 24.