Stimulation probe

• US 8,977,367 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elahi, Bijan, Ouchouche, Sbastien Jody
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US14/104,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/48, 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36096 Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder

Abstract

A stimulation probe comprises a lead having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the lead has a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate tissue. A protective tubing element extends over a portion of the lead proximate the proximal end of the lead. An advanced lead can element includes a switch matrix. The advanced lead can element is coupled to the proximal end of the lead and configured to couple the lead to an implantable pulse generator.

Claims

1. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one lead comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and

wherein the at least one protective tubing element is at least partially arranged over and/or around the proximal end of the at least one lead.

2. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protective tubing element is connected and/or connectable to the advanced lead can element by a fastening mechanism.

3. The probe according to claim 2, wherein the fastening mechanism is configured such that the at least one protective tubing element and the advanced lead can element are mechanically interlocked.

4. The probe according to claim 2, wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the at least one protective tubing element.

5. The probe according to claim 2, wherein the at least one protective tubing element is permanently attached or attachable to the advanced lead can element.

6. The probe according to claim 2, wherein the fastening mechanism is configured such that the at least one protective tubing element and/or the advanced lead can element comprises at least one part of the fastening mechanism.

7. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises at least one reinforcement member.

8. The probe according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement member includes a helical spring or a braided mesh.

9. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises an outer layer.

10. The probe according to claim 9, wherein the outer layer is at least partially comprised of a polymer.

11. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises an inner layer.

12. The probe according to claim 11, wherein the inner layer is at least partially a lubricious substrate layer.

13. The probe according to claim 12, wherein the lubricious substrate layer is comprised of HDPE, PTFE and/or PEEK.

20. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the advanced lead can element includes a switch matrix for deep brain stimulation electronics.

21. A neurostimulation and/or neurorecording system, comprising at least one probe according to claim 1.

14. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead, wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a distal end having a lower hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the at least one protective tubing element.

15. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein a distal end of the at least one protective tubing element has a durometer of less than approximately 20 Shore A.

16. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a proximal end having the same or a higher hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the at least one protective tubing element.

17. The probe according to claim 16, wherein the proximal end of the at least one protective tubing element comprises at least a part of a fastening mechanism so as to interlock the at least one protective tubing element with a proximal end of the at least one lead or the advanced lead can element.

18. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a length varying member configured to vary a length of the at least one protective tubing element.

19. The probe according to claim 18, wherein the length varying member includes two or more telescopic reinforced tubes of progressively smaller diameters which are nested within each other.

22. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead,

wherein the proximal end of the protective tubing element is connected and/or connectable to the advanced lead can element by a fastening mechanism.

23. The protective tubing element according to claim 22, wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the protective tubing element.

24. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the protective tubing element is permanently attached or attachable to the advanced lead can element.

25. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

at least one reinforcement member.

26. The protective tubing element according to claim 25, wherein the reinforcement member includes a helical spring or a braided mesh.

27. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

an outer layer.

28. The protective tubing element according to claim 27, wherein the outer layer is at least partially comprised of a polymer.

29. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

an inner layer.

30. The protective tubing element according to claim 29, wherein the inner layer is at least partially a lubricious substrate layer.

31. The protective tubing element according to claim 30, wherein the lubricious substrate layer is comprised of HDPE, PTFE and/or PEEK.

32. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the distal end has a lower hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the protective tubing element.

33. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the distal end has a durometer of less than approximately 20 Shore A.

34. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the proximal end has the same or a higher hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the protective tubing element.

35. The protective tubing element according to claim 34, wherein the proximal end of the protective tubing element comprises at least a part of a fastening mechanism so as to interlock the protective tubing element with the proximal end of the lead or the advanced lead can element.

36. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

further comprising

a length varying member configured to vary a length of the protective tubing element.

37. The protective tubing element according to claim 36, wherein the length varying member includes two or more telescopic reinforced tubes of progressively smaller diameters which are nested within each other.

38. An advanced lead can element for a probe having a lead comprising:

a fastening mechanism configured to fasten to a protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the lead.

39. The advanced lead can element according to claim 38, wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the protective tubing element.

40. The advanced lead can element according to claim 38 further comprising:

a switch matrix for deep brain stimulation electronics.