Methods and systems for deploying an electrode array at a target location and verifying the location thereof
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11938313-B2
Publication Date
2024-03-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for deploying an electrode array at a target location through a hole formed in the patient's cranium. The system includes an array of electrodes attached to a substrate and an inserter attached to the substrate and/or the array of electrodes. The inserter, substrate and array of electrodes are configured into a first compressed state and are positioned within the lumen of a cannula. Using the cannula, the system is inserted through the hole, the cannula is then removed, and the inserter is used to transition the substrate and electrode array from the first compressed state to a second uncompressed state, thereby deploying the array of electrodes at the target location.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to deploying an electrode array system at a target location within a patient's cranium through a hole formed in the patient's cranium and verifying placement at the target location. The electrode array system includes a cannula having a lumen, a substrate, an array of electrodes attached to the substrate, and an inserter attached to the substrate, with the substrate, the array of electrodes, and the inserter positioned in the lumen in a first compressed state.
The method inserts the cannula through the hole and slides the cannula backwards while positioning the inserter, the substrate, and the array of electrodes at the target location. The method causes the inserter, the substrate, and the array of electrodes to transition from the first compressed state to a second uncompressed state at the target location.
Placement is verified using an electrical pulse generator. Surface electrodes are used on the patient's scalp, and pulsed electric fields are generated and detected to produce signals at the implanted grid electrodes. The location of each electrode of the array of electrodes is calculated using inverse localization and statistical comparison.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three explicit inventive feature areas across the independent claims: compressed-to-uncompressed electrode array deployment in a cannula lumen, verification of implanted array placement using an electrical pulse generator, and a front-pointing image sensor implemented as at least one of CCD or CMOS.
Compressed-to-uncompressed electrode array deployment in a cannula lumen
An electrode array system is obtained with a cannula having a lumen, a substrate, an array of electrodes attached to the substrate, and an inserter attached to the substrate, wherein the substrate, the array of electrodes, and the inserter are positioned in the lumen in a first compressed state; the cannula is inserted through the hole, the cannula is slid backwards while positioning the inserter, the substrate, and the array of electrodes at the target location, and the inserter, the substrate, and the array of electrodes transition to a second uncompressed state at the target location.
Verification of implanted array placement using an electrical pulse generator
Placement of the array of electrodes at the target location is verified using an electrical pulse generator.
Front-pointing image sensor as CCD or CMOS
The front-pointing image sensor is at least one of a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.
Overall, the independent claims cover deploying a cannula-contained, first-compressed electrode array into a cranial target location and verifying placement using an electrical pulse generator, with an additional independent feature specifying that a front-pointing image sensor is implemented as at least one of CCD or CMOS.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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