Implantable device for the brain

• US 9,592,377 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Mech, Brian V., McClure, Kelly H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US12/180,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,154 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 2, 607115-116, 607/118
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37514 Brain implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/111 Pads for surface mounting, e.g. lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention consists of an implantable device with at least one package that houses electronics that receives input data or signals, and optionally power, from an external system through at least one coil attached to the at least one package, processes the input data and delivers electrical pulses to neural tissue through at least one array of multiple electrodes that is/are attached to the at least one package. The invention, or components thereof, is/are intended to be installed in the head, or on or in the cranium or on the dura, or on or in the brain.

Claims

1. A neural stimulator comprising:

a hermetic package enclosing electronics suitable to be implanted within a head;

a flange defining a plurality of voids around the hermetic package suitable to accept screws adapted for mounting the hermetic package to the cranium; and

a flexible thin film electrode array electrically coupled to said electronics suitable for direct contact with and direct stimulation of the brain including

a flexible polymer base layer;

patterned metal traces deposited on said flexible polymer base layer the metal traces forming a bond pad portion connected to the hermetic electronics package, an electrode portion adapted for contact with the brain and a cable portion connecting the bond pad portion to the electrode portion; and

a flexible polymer top layer deposited on said flexible polymer base layer and said metal traces and defining voids exposing said electrodes, the thin film electrode array forming both non-penetrating approximately flat surface electrodes suitable to stimulate the surface of the brain and forming electrodes on penetrating spikes suitable to stimulate the brain at some depth.

2. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of thin film electrode arrays electrically coupled to said electronics suitable for direct contact with and direct stimulation of the brain.

3. The neural stimulator according to claim 1 wherein said electrode array includes greater than 30 electrodes.

4. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, wherein said electrode array includes more than 50 electrodes.

5. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, wherein said electrode array includes more than 75 electrodes.

6. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, wherein said electrode array includes more than 100 electrodes.

7. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, wherein said electrode array includes more than 200 electrodes.

8. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrically coupled hermetic packages enclosing electronics.

9. The neural stimulator according to claim 8, wherein a first hermetic package encloses electronics, and a second hermetic package encloses a demultiplexer electrically coupled to said electronics.

10. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coils electrically coupled to said electronics.

11. The neural stimulator according to claim 1, wherein

the surface electrodes are suitable for stimulation of a surface of the brain;

and

the electrodes on the penetrating spikes are suitable for recording from a depth within the brain.

12. The neural stimulator according to claim 1 wherein

The electrodes on the penetrating spikes are suitable for stimulation of a depth within the brain;

and

the surface electrodes are suitable for recording from a surface of the brain.