Flexible printed circuit (FPC) flexible electrode

Abstract

The invention provides an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) flexible electrode. The FPC flexible electrode comprises an FPC flexible electrode interface end, an FPC flexible electrode flat cable and an FPC flexible electrode contact end, the FPC flexible electrode contact end comprises a PC base attached to the FPC flexible electrode flat cable and a silica gel base connected to the other end of the PC base, mounting holes are formed in the PC base, a plurality of contacts are distributed on the silica gel base, and the mounting contacts are arranged on the periphery of the mounting holes; the contact end of the FPC flexible electrode is provided with the base made of the medical PC material and the silica gel, the FPC flexible electrode has good mechanical strength and certain deformability, the mounting holes are formed in the base made of the medical PC material, the FPC flexible electrode can be fixed to various bony structures through screws, and good contact with nerves is formed through the electrode contacts on the silica gel base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the fields of medical equipment and biomedical engineering, and in particular to an FPC flexible electrode. Background Art

[0002] Implantable neural electrodes are commonly used tools in the field of neuroelectrophysiology. They include needle electrodes, cuff electrodes, Utah electrodes, ECOG electrodes, and flexible electrodes of various forms (film, wire, etc.). When monitoring neural activity, appropriate electrodes can be selected based on the morphology of the nerves and the characteristics of the surrounding tissues. For example, needle electrodes can reach deep nerves through the body surface, but there is a risk of injury; cuff electrodes can tightly wrap around free nerves; and flexible electrodes can be attached to the surface of various nerves.

[0003] Currently, there is no good electrode implantation solution for nerves that are surrounded by bony structures and can be partially exposed by removing the bone wall but cannot be completely freed (such as the optic nerve and facial nerve). For example, needle electrodes cannot be fixed on the bone wall and there is a risk of injury; cuff electrodes can only be used for free nerves; although various flexible electrodes can be attached to the surface of nerves, there is no good fixation solution. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art and provide an FPC flexible electrode that has both good mechanical strength and a certain deformation capacity. The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: An FPC flexible electrode comprises an FPC flexible electrode interface end, an FPC flexible electrode cable, and an FPC flexible electrode contact end; the FPC flexible electrode contact end comprises a PC base fitted with the FPC flexible electrode cable, and a silicone base connected to the other end of the PC base, a mounting hole is arranged on the PC base, a plurality of contacts are distributed on the silicone base, and mounting contacts are arranged around the mounting hole.

[0005] Preferably, the contacts on the FPC flexible electrode are prepared by an immersion gold process, and have good electrical conductivity, oxidation resistance and biocompatibility.

[0006] Preferably, the silicone base is tilted outward relative to the PC base, specifically: the bottom of the silicone base with a plurality of contacts is a first bottom surface, the bottom of the PC base with mounting contacts has a second bottom surface, and the angle between the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface is an obtuse angle.

[0007] Preferably, the silicone base extends outward from the connection with the PC base and gradually becomes thinner so as to better fit the bone wall.

[0008] Finally, a suture hole is reserved in the middle section of the FPC flexible electrode cable, and medical sutures can be used to suture the electrode to the skin surface to enhance the firmness of the installation.

[0009] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present invention has a base made of a combination of medical PC material and silicone at the contact end of the FPC flexible electrode, which has good mechanical strength and a certain deformation ability. A mounting hole is set on the base of the medical PC material, and screws can be used to fix it to various bone structures, and good contact is formed with the nerves through the electrode contacts on the silicone base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, without paying creative labor, other drawings obtained based on these drawings still belong to the scope of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 1 This is the FPC flexible electrode structure diagram; Figure 2 This is the structural diagram of the FPC flexible electrode contact end; Figure 3 This is an example of fixing the contact end of the FPC flexible electrode; Figure 4 It is the uninstalled FPC flexible electrode contact end; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of fixing the FPC flexible electrode to the skin surface; Figure 6 It is the FPC flexible electrode interface; In the figure, 11- FPC flexible electrode interface end, 12- FPC flexible electrode cable, 13- FPC flexible electrode contact end, 14- PC base, 15- silicone base, 16- first contact, 17- second contact, 18- third contact, 19- fourth contact, 20- mounting hole, 21- medical self-tapping screw, 22- mounting contact, 23- bone wall, 24- exposed nerve, 25- skin, 26- FPC flexible electrode cable perforation, 27- medical suture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings.

[0013] It should be noted that all expressions using "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present invention are for distinguishing two non-identical entities with the same name or non-identical parameters. It can be seen that "first" and "second" are only for the convenience of expression and should not be understood as limitations on the embodiments of the present invention. The subsequent embodiments will not explain this one by one.

[0014] The directions and positions mentioned in the present invention, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "top", "bottom", "side", etc., are only for reference to the directions or positions of the drawings. Therefore, the directions and positions used are for explaining and understanding the present invention, but not for limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] Example An FPC flexible electrode comprises an FPC flexible electrode interface end 11, an FPC flexible electrode cable 12, and an FPC flexible electrode contact end 13, wherein the FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 comprises a PC base 14 fitted with the FPC flexible electrode cable 12 and a silicone base 15 connected to the PC base 14, a mounting hole 20 is arranged on the PC base 14, the silicone base 15 has good elasticity and can press the contact to the surface of a nerve, a first contact 16, a second contact 17, a third contact 18, and a fourth contact 19 are distributed on the silicone base 15, and the contacts are prepared by an immersion gold process and are used for stimulating a circuit and a collecting circuit; an installation contact 22 is arranged outside the installation hole 20 and is also prepared by an immersion gold process.

[0016] The structure of the FPC flexible electrode contact terminal 13 is as follows Figure 2 As shown, the fixing method is as follows Figure 3 As shown; the FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 adopts a base made of medical PC material, and the PC base 14 has good hardness and can meet the supporting effect. The FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 is fixed to the bone 23B by a medical self-tapping screw 21.

[0017] Uninstalled FPC flexible motor contact end Figure 4 As shown, the flexible silicone base 15 will tilt forward due to good elasticity. After installation, the flexible silicone base 15 is compressed and the tilt angle becomes smaller.

[0018] The FPC flexible electrode cable 12 is provided with FPC flexible electrode cable perforations, and the method for fixing the FPC flexible electrode to the skin surface is: using medical suture thread 27 to pass through the perforation 26 in the middle of the FPC flexible motor cable 12, and suturing and fixing the electrode to the skin surface.

[0019] Finally, the correspondence between the FPC flexible motor interface and the FPC flexible electrode contact end interface is shown in the following table.

[0020] The above disclosure is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An FPC flexible electrode, characterized in that: It comprises an FPC flexible electrode interface end (11), an FPC flexible electrode cable (12), and an FPC flexible electrode contact end (13); The FPC flexible electrode contact end (13) comprises a PC base (14) fitted with the FPC flexible electrode cable (12), and a silicone base (15) connected to the other end of the PC base (14); a mounting hole (20) is provided on the PC base (14); a plurality of contacts are distributed on the silicone base (15); and mounting contacts (22) are provided around the mounting hole (20).

2. The FPC flexible electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of contacts and the mounting contacts (22) on the silicone base (15) are all prepared using an immersion gold process.

3. The FPC flexible electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that: The silicone base (15) is arranged to be tilted outward relative to the PC base (14); the bottom of the silicone base (15) having a plurality of contacts is a first bottom surface; the bottom of the PC base (14) having mounting contacts (22) has a second bottom surface; and the angle between the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface is an obtuse angle.

4. The FPC flexible electrode according to claim 3, characterized in that: The silicone base (15) extends outwards from the connection with the PC base (14) and gradually becomes thinner.

5. The FPC flexible electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that: The FPC flexible electrode cable (12) is provided with an FPC flexible electrode cable through hole (26).

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