THREE-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM OF ELECTRODE LEADS

• US 20090118806A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuronexus Technologies Incorporated (NEL Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neuronexus Technologies Incorporated (NEL Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Helke, Jamille F., Kipke, Daryl R., Vetter, Rio J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes

Abstract

The electrode lead system of a preferred embodiment includes a series of first electrical subsystems; a guiding element that positions the series of first electrical subsystems in a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue; a second electrical subsystem; and at least one connector that couples the first electrical subsystems to the second electrical subsystem. The electrode lead system of another preferred embodiment includes a series of electrode arrays; a guide tube that facilitates implantation of electrode arrays within body tissue and temporarily contains the series of electrode arrays; and a guiding element that provides a bias on the series of electrode arrays such that (a) when contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems maintain a substantially singular path within body tissue, and (b) when not contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems diverge along more than one path into a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue.

Claims

1. An electrode lead system for implantation into body tissue comprising:

a series of first electrical subsystems that interfaces with body tissue;

a guiding element that positions the series of first electrical subsystems in a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue;

a second electrical subsystem; and

at least one connector that couples the first electrical subsystems to the second electrical subsystem.

2. The electrode lead system of claim 1, wherein the series of first electrical subsystem includes at least one electrode array that interfaces with neural tissue.

3. The electrode lead system of claim 2, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrode sites that electrically stimulate different portions of neural tissue.

4. The electrode lead system of claim 3, wherein the electrode array further includes a plurality of electrode sites that electrically record different portions of neural tissue.

5. The electrode lead system of claim 2, wherein the electrode array is made of a thin-film polymer substrate.

6. The electrode lead system of claim 5, wherein the electrode array further includes conductive interconnects that terminate in an electrode site at one end and a bond pad for electrical connection to an external instrumentation on the other end, and layers of dielectrics that insulate the interconnects on either side of the interconnects.

7. The electrode lead system of claim 1, wherein the guiding element operates in the following two modes:

consolidates the trajectories of the first electrical subsystems to a substantially singular path within body tissue; and

diverges the trajectories of the first electrical subsystems to more than one paths within body tissue, which positions the series of first electrical subsystems in a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue.

8. The electrode lead system of claim 1, further comprising a guide tube that facilitates implantation of the series of first electrical subsystems within body tissue and temporarily contains the series of first electrical subsystems.

9. The electrode lead system of claim 8, wherein the guiding element provides a non-linear bias on the series of first electrical subsystems.

10. The electrode lead system of claim 9, wherein the guiding element provides a non-linear bias on the series of first electrical subsystems such that, when not contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems diverge along more than one path into a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue.

11. The electrode lead system of claim 10, wherein the guiding element provides a non-linear bias on the series of first electrical subsystems such that, when contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems maintain a substantially singular path within body tissue.

12. The electrode lead system of claim 1, wherein the second electrical subsystem provides at least one of the following:

signal conditioning and stimulus generation.

13. The electrode lead system of claim 1, wherein the connector is a flexible ribbon cable.

14. An electrode lead system for implantation into body tissue comprising:

a series of electrode arrays that interface with neural tissue;

a guide tube that facilitates implantation of the series of electrode arrays within body tissue and temporarily contains the series of electrode arrays; and

a guiding element that provides a bias on the series of electrode arrays such that;

when contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems maintain a substantially singular path within body tissue, and

when not contained by the guide tube, the first electrical subsystems diverge along more than one path into a three dimensional arrangement within body tissue.

15. The electrode lead system of claim 14, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrode sites that electrically stimulate different portions of neural tissue.

16. The electrode lead system of claim 15, wherein the electrode array further includes a plurality of electrode sites that electrically record different portions of neural tissue.