MICROELECTRODE WITH LATERALLY EXTENDING PLATFORM FOR REDUCTION OF TISSUE ENCAPSULATION

• US 20090299167A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: John P. Seymour
• Inventors: Seymour, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/393
• 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 5/685 Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

In some embodiments, an implantable microelectrode is provided with a shank comprised of a laterally extending platform whose thickness and/or configuration contributes to reduced tissue encapsulation, with at least one electrode site disposed at least partially on or in the laterally extending platform. Novel methods of designing, making, and using an implantable microelectrode or biosensor resulting in reduced tissue encapsulation are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable microelectrode comprising:

a shank, and

at least one electrode site,

wherein the shank comprises a backbone portion and a laterally extending platform, the laterally extending platform having a thickness less than the backbone portion and extending up to about 250 microns radially from the backbone and

wherein at least one electrode site is disposed at least partially on or in the laterally extending platform.

2. The implantable microelectrode of claim 1, wherein the laterally extending platform further comprises at least one longitudinal rib and at least one radially projecting rib projecting from the backbone and wherein the configuration of the longitudinal rib, the radially extending rib, and the backbone form at least one open space in the laterally extending platform.

3. The implantable microelectrode of claim 2, wherein at least one electrode site is disposed at least partially on or in the longitudinal rib.

4. The implantable microelectrode of claim 1 or 2, wherein the laterally extending platform has a thickness between about 0.5 and 10 microns.

5. The implantable microelectrode of claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of microelectrodes disposed on the laterally extending platform.

6. The implantable microelectrode of claim 5, wherein at least one of the electrode sites is disposed on the most lateral edge of laterally extending platform or within about 10 microns of the most lateral edge.

7. The implantable microelectrode of claim 1 or 2, wherein the shank further comprises a tip whose shape is chisel, conical, frusto-conical, or any combination thereof.

8. The implantable microelectrode of claim 1 or 2, wherein the backbone and the laterally extending platform further comprise at least one layer of a non-conductive material and a layer of electrically conductive material comprising at least one electrical channel on top of the non-conductive material or between multiple layers of a non-conductive material.

9. An implantable microelectrode comprising:

a shank comprising a backbone and a laterally extending platform, the laterally extending platform having a thickness of between about 0.5 and 10 microns and less than the backbone portion and extending up to about 250 microns radially from the backbone,

one or more electrode site, and

one or more conductive interconnects disposed between layers of dielectrics in one or both of the shank and the laterally extending platform, the dielectric layers insulating the interconnects on top and bottom sides, wherein the interconnects terminate with respective electrode sites and/or with bond pads and wherein at least one electrode site is disposed at least partially on or in the laterally extending platform.

10. The implantable microelectrode of claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode site disposed at least partially on or in the laterally extending platform comprises surface area disposed at least partially on or in the top, bottom, and/or most lateral sides of the laterally extending platform.

11. The implantable microelectrode of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of interconnects disposed within the microelectrode between layers of dielectric material,

a plurality of electrode sites, at least some of are disposed on the laterally extending platform and which are in contact with a corresponding interconnect, and

a plurality of bond pads, at least some of which are in contact with a respective interconnect,

wherein at least one of the electrode sites is a recording site or a stimulation site.