Flexible neural interfaces with integrated stiffening shank

• US 9,399,128 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Tooker, Angela C., Felix, Sarah H., Pannu, Satinderpall S., Shah, Kedar G., Sheth, Heeral, Tolosa, Vanessa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark W
• Application Number:
  US14/210,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/125 characterised by the manufacture of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6867 specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part A61B5/6847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6868 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6877 Nerve
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system

Abstract

A neural interface includes a first dielectric material having at least one first opening for a first electrical conducting material, a first electrical conducting material in the first opening, and at least one first interconnection trace electrical conducting material connected to the first electrical conducting material. A stiffening shank material is located adjacent the first dielectric material, the first electrical conducting material, and the first interconnection trace electrical conducting material.

Claims

1. A neural interface device adapted to be inserted into tissue, comprising:

a neural interface body, wherein said neural interface body includes

an insertion end and

a body portion extending from said insertion end;

an upper layer made of a first dielectric material wherein said first dielectric material is biocompatible, said upper layer extending over said insertion end and said body portion of said neural interface body and having at least one first opening for a first electrical conducting material wherein said at least one first opening is located only in said upper layer extending over said insertion end;

a first electrical conducting material in said first opening that provides an electrode in said upper layer;

at least one first interconnection trace electrical conducting material in said upper layer connected to said first electrical conducting material, wherein said interconnection trace electrical material is located in said upper layer extending over said insertion end and said body portion of said neural interface body;

a lower layer made of a second dielectric material wherein said second dielectric material is biocompatible, wherein said lower layer extends under said insertion end and said body portion of said neural interface body; and

a stiffening shank between said upper layer and said lower layer wherein said stiffening shank is adjacent said first dielectric material, said first electrical conducting material, and said first interconnection trace electrical conducting material, wherein said stiffening shank is located only in said insertion end of said neural interface body; and

wherein said stiffening shank is made of a material that provides the neural interface device with sufficient stiffening that the neural interface device is adapted to be inserted into tissue.

2. The neural interface device of claim 1 wherein said stiffening shank is made of a semiconductor material, a glass material, a quartz material, a silicon-dioxide material, a sapphire material, a ceramic material, a tungsten material, a silicon-carbide material, or a diamond material that provides said stiffening shank and the neural interface device with sufficient stiffening that the neural interface device is adapted to be inserted into tissue.

3. The neural interface device of claim 1 wherein said lower layer includes

a second dielectric material wherein said second dielectric material is biocompatible, said lower layer having at least one second opening for a second electrical conducting material;

a second electrical conducting material in said second opening that provides a second electrode in said lower layer; and

at least one second interconnection trace electrical conducting material connected to said second electrical conducting material.