Bio-implantable electrode assembly

• US 9,925,368 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoTherapy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InnoTherapy, Inc.
• Inventors: Ryu, Seong Woo, Lee, Hae Shin, Lee, Moon Sue, Paek, Sun Ha, Koh, Mi Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Carey, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Natasha
• Application Number:
  US14/895,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors

Abstract

Disclosed is a carbon material for a neurostimulation electrode. The carbon material is composed of a carbon fiber. The carbon fiber has a thickness of 1 to 1000 μm, a linear density of 0.01 to 5.00 g/cm, and an aspect ratio of 100 to 1,000,000. Particularly, the carbon fiber material can be obtained by dry spinning carbon nanotubes, followed by liquid-based densification. The carbon material can be used in the fields of deep brain stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, etc. Also disclosed are an electrode assembly and a neurostimulation device, each including the carbon material.

Claims

1. A bio-implantable electrode assembly comprising:

an electrode inserted into a body to deliver electrical signals to a desired nerve site;

an insulator coating on a surface of the electrode which leaves at least some portion of the electrode exposed; and

a neurostimulation portion defined by the exposed portion of the electrode in which the electrical signals are applied to the nerve site upon contact, wherein the electrode is composed of a carbon fiber,

wherein the carbon fiber has a thickness of 1 to 1000 μ

m, a linear density of 0.01 to 5.00 g/cm, and an aspect ratio of 100 to 1,000,000.

2. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber is a carbon nanotube spun yarn.

3. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotube spun yarn is one obtained by liquid-based densification.

4. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) or a mixture thereof.

5. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 2, wherein the carbon nanotube spun yarn has a tensile strength of 10 to 100,000 MPa.

6. A neurostimulation device comprising the bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, a neurostimulator adapted to generate pulse signals, and a connector through which the electrode assembly is wired or wirelessly connected to the neurostimulator.

7. The neurostimulation device according to claim 6, wherein the pulse signals have frequencies of 1 kHz to 9999 GHz.

8. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the insulator coating is composed of a biocompatible polymer resin.

9. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the insulator coating is in a range of 0.1 mm-20 mm.

10. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fiber consists of a circumferential surface and two end surfaces and the insulator coating encloses the entire circumferential surface of the carbon fiber except for the neurostimulation portion.

11. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the neurostimulation portion is located at an end of the electrode.

12. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical signals are delivered to the desired nerve site only through the carbon fiber electrode.

13. The bio-implantable electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the electrical signals are delivered to the desired nerve site only through the carbon fiber electrode.