Smart lead for deep brain stimulation

• US 9,364,659 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dantam K. Rao
• Original Assignee: Dantam K. Rao
• Inventors: Rao, Dantam K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US14/697,425
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 600/377, 600/378
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/066 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

Disclosed is a smart lead comprising a large number of micro-electrodes and macro-electrodes. The macro-electrodes are perforated, and contain several through-holes which are used to electrically join them with associated electrode-wires. The radial gaps that separate the macro-electrodes are filled with macro-electrode strips that carry a three-dimensional array of micro-electrodes. The nest of macro-electrodes with electrode-wires and micro-electrode strips are injection molded to form the smart lead. The signals sensed by micro-electrodes are used to locate the target neurons right at the first insertion of the smart lead, thereby greatly reducing the surgical time. A closed loop control software in automates location of the target neuron sites and limit the currents to stimulate only the target neurons, thereby reducing side-effects and increasing battery life.

Claims

1. An implantable lead having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

(a) a plurality of macro-electrodes, each macro-electrode shaped as annular disc segment spanning an integral fraction of 360°

, said each macro-electrode having a plurality of electrodes separated by a plurality of radial gaps, wherein said plurality of electrodes form an electrode-ring,

b) a plurality of micro-electrode strips, each micro-electrode strip comprising an insulative micro-electrode substrate with an array of micro-electrode traces, and a protection strip, wherein said protection strip covers said array of micro-electrode traces,

wherein said plurality of macro-electrodes are engaged and locked together by said plurality of micro-electrode strips which are placed in said radial gaps of said each macro-electrode and wherein said plurality of micro-electrode strips extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

2. The implantable lead in claim 1, wherein the implantable lead is formed with a molding material that is insulative and bio-compatible that fills all empty spaces and engages said macro-electrodes and said micro-electrode strips.