IMPLANTABLE MULTI-ELECTRODE DEVICE

• US 20100076536A1
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Pijnenburg, Remco H.W., Ponomarev, Youri V., Merz, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,737 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: A61L 31/148 Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0536 Preventing neurodegenerative response or inflammatory reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The invention provides an implantable multi-electrode device (300) and related methods and apparatuses. In one embodiment, the invention includes an implantable device (300) comprising: an assembly block (320); and a plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) radiating from the assembly block (320), each of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) containing at least one electrode (342A), such that the electrodes are distributed within a three-dimensional space, wherein the assembly block (320) includes a barb (350) for anchoring the assembly block (320) within implanted tissue.

Claims

1. A method for delivering an electrical stimulus to nervous tissue of an individual, the method comprising:

implanting in the nervous tissue of an individual a stimulatory device (300) including;

an assembly block (320); and

a plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) extending from the assembly block (320), each of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) containing at least one electrode (342A), such that the electrodes become distributed within a targeted volume (312) of the nervous tissue; and

administering to the nervous tissue an electrical stimulus using at least one electrode (342A).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assembly block (320) includes at least one barb (350) for anchoring the assembly block (320) within the nervous tissue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one barb (350) is adapted to be retracted toward the assembly block (320) in a first position and extend from the assembly block (320) in a second position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) includes more than one electrode (342A).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device (300) further includes:

a biodegradable encapsulant (470) for protecting the device (300) during implanting.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrodes (342A) are adapted to assume a first distribution while the leads (340 . . . 348) are contained within the biodegradable encapsulant (470) and a second distribution upon degradation of the biodegradable encapsulant (470).

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the encapsulant (470) includes at least one of the following:

polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polydioxanone (PDS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) are prearranged such that the distribution of the electrodes (342A) corresponds to the targeted volume (312) of the nervous tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein administering includes administering the electrical stimulus to a volume of the nervous tissue smaller than a maximum volume possible by using fewer electrodes (342A) than are contained within the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording neural activity within the targeted volume (312) of the nervous tissue using at least one electrode (342A).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulus is capable of reducing a tremor suffered by the individual.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

administering to the individual at least one anti-tremor medication.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual is suffering from at least one of the following:

Parkinson'"'"'s Disease, depression, a bipolar disorder, an obsessive convulsive disorder, and epilepsy.

14. An implantable device (300) comprising:

an assembly block (320); and

a plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) radiating from the assembly block (320), each of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) containing at least one electrode (342A), such that the electrodes are distributed within a three-dimensional space.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the assembly block (320) includes at least one barb (350) for anchoring the assembly block (350) within implanted tissue.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one lead wire (328) operable to distribute a stimulus to the assembly block (320),

wherein the assembly block (320) includes electronic multiplexing circuitry operable to distribute the stimulus to at least one of the electrodes (342A).

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the electronic multiplexing circuitry is controlled by at least one of the following:

a lead wire (328) and a radio frequency telemetry link.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) includes more than one electrode (342A).

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) are prearranged such that the distribution of the electrodes corresponds to a targeted volume (312) of the implanted tissue.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a biodegradable encapsulant (470) for protecting at least a portion of the device (300) during implantation.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the electrodes are adapted to assume a first distribution while the leads (340 . . . 348) are contained within the biodegradable encapsulant (470) and a second distribution upon degradation of the biodegradable encapsulant (470).

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the encapsulant (470) includes at least one of the following:

polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polydioxanone (PDS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB).

23. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining at least one of the angular orientation and the rotation of the device during implantation.

24. A system for implanting an implantable device, the system comprising:

implantable device (300) including;

an assembly block (320); and

a plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) radiating from the assembly block (320), each of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) containing at least one electrode (342A), such that the electrodes are distributed within a three-dimensional space; and

an apparatus (600) for implanting the implantable device (300) comprising;

an outer tube (602);

an inner tube (604); and

a mating feature (603) on a surface of the inner tube compatible with a feature (362) on a surface of an implantable device (300),

wherein an inner diameter of the outer tube (602) is at least as great as an outer diameter of the inner tube (604), such that the implantable device (300) may be moved through the outer tube (602) by the inner tube (604).

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the assembly block (320) includes at least one barb (350) for anchoring the assembly block (320) within implanted tissue.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) includes more than one electrode (342A).

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of leads (340 . . . 348) is prearranged such that the distribution of the electrodes corresponds to a targeted volume (312) of implanted tissue.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a biodegradable encapsulant (470) for protecting at least a portion of the device (300) during implantation.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the electrodes are adapted to assume a first distribution while the leads (340 . . . 348) are contained within the biodegradable encapsulant (470) and a second distribution upon degradation of the biodegradable encapsulant (470).

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the encapsulant (470) includes at least one of the following:

polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polydioxanone (PDS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB).

31. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for determining at least one of the angular orientation and the rotation of the device (300) during implantation.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the inner tube (604) of the implantation apparatus (600) is adapted to contain at least one lead wire (328) of the implantable device (300).

33. An apparatus (600) for implanting an implantable device comprising:

an outer tube (602);

an inner tube (604); and

a mating feature (603) on a surface of the inner tube (604) compatible with a feature (362) on a surface of an implantable device (300),

wherein an inner diameter of the outer tube (602) is at least as great as an outer diameter of the inner tube (604), such that the implantable device (300) may be moved through the outer tube (602) by the inner tube (604).

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein at least one of an angular orientation and a rotation of the implantable device (300) may be controlled by manipulation of the mating feature (603).

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the feature (362) on the surface of the implantable device (300) includes at least one of the following:

a notch and a ridge.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the inner tube (604) is adapted to contain at least one lead wire (328) of the implantable device.

37. A method for protecting an implantable device (300), the method comprising:

applying an encapsulant (470) to a surface of at least a portion of an implantable device (300).

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the encapsulant (470) includes at least one compound selected from a group consisting of:

polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polydioxanone (PDS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB).

39. The method of claim 37, wherein applying includes at least one of:

injection moulding, spraying, and vapor deposition.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the encapsulant (470) further includes at least one of the following operable to be released as the encapsulant degrades:

an anti-inflammatory medication and a growth promoting protein.

41. An implantable device (300) comprising an encapsulant (470) applied according to claim 37.