INTRACEREBRAL PROBE AND DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC DYSFUNCTIONS

• US 20100168826A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Assistance Publique - Hopitaux De Paris
• Original Assignee: Assistance Publique - Hopitaux De Paris
• Inventors: Carpentier, Alexandre
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00446 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6864 Burr holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation

Abstract

An intracerebral probe (11) comprising a first part (20) with laser or cryogenic treatment means and further comprising a hollow second part (22) surrounding the first, the first part sliding inside the second part along its longitudinal axis (A); and a plurality of detectors (16) distributed along a portion of the second part (22) in such a manner as to be capable of identifying a brain dysfunction zone along the longitudinal axis (A) of the second part. Advantageously, the probe presents a lateral treatment window enabling the action of the treatment means to be directed. The invention also provides a kit and a treatment system including such a probe, and the use thereof of treating cell dysfunctions that give rise to neurological or psychiatric symptoms.

Claims

1. An intracerebral probe comprising a first part with laser or cryogenic treatment means, and further comprising:

a hollow second part surrounding the first part and having a longitudinal axis, the first part sliding inside the second part along said longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of detectors distributed along a portion of the second part in such a manner as to be capable of identifying a brain dysfunction zone along the longitudinal axis of the second part.

2. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, in which the detectors are electrodes, each electrode being capable of detecting electrical activity in the surrounding zone of the brain.

3. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, in which the detectors are distributed circumferentially over the second part, around the longitudinal axis of the second part, or are segmented circumferentially so as to be capable of identifying the position of a brain dysfunction zone angularly around said longitudinal axis.

4. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, in which the second part of the probe presents a lateral treatment window enabling the action of the laser or cryogenic treatment means to be directed.

5. An intracerebral probe according to claim 4, including laser treatment means, said lateral treatment window being a window that is transparent to the laser radiation emitted by said laser treatment means.

6. An intracerebral probe according to claim 4, in which said lateral treatment window extends along the longitudinal axis of the second part and/or circumferentially around said axis.

7. An intracerebral probe according to claim 6, in which the circumferential width of said lateral treatment window varies along the longitudinal axis of the second part.

8. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, including a fastener system mounted on one or other of the probe parts and enabling the first and second parts of the probe to be held fixed in a determined relative position.

9. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, such that all of the materials constituting it are selected to be compatible with MRI, thereby making it possible to perform MRI monitoring while using the probe.

10. A kit comprising a probe according to 1, a guide for guiding the second part of the probe while it is being implanted in the brain, and a fastener system for holding said second part and the guide fixed in a determined relative position.

11. A kit according to claim 10, comprising a plastics sheath extending between said guide and an extracranial end of the first part of the probe so as to maintain a sterile environment for junctions between the guide and the second part of the probe, and between the first and second parts of the probe.

12. A treatment system comprising a probe according to claim 1 and a control system for controlling the operation of said laser or cryogenic treatment means, said control means system being connected to the detectors of the probe so as to be capable, during treatment, of receiving information from said detectors and of modulating the operation of said treatment means as a function of the information received.

13. A treatment system according to claim 12, further comprising a connection system for connecting said control system to an MRI appliance so as to be capable, during treatment, of receiving information from said MRI appliance and of modulating the operation of said treatment means as a function of the information received.

14. A treatment system according to claim 12, including a position-identifier system co-operating with said detectors of the probe in order to identify the position of a brain dysfunction zone, and actuator(s) for moving the first part of the probe in such a manner as to bring the treatment means up to the identified dysfunction zone.

15. An intracerebral probe according to claim 1, wherein a cooling system is provided in the first part of the probe.

16. An intracerebral probe according to claim 15, wherein said cooling system is a system for moving cooling liquid back and forth.