An FPC flexible electrode

Abstract

The present invention provides an FPC flexible electrode, which includes an FPC flexible electrode interface end, an FPC flexible electrode cable, and an FPC flexible electrode contact end; the FPC flexible electrode contact end includes a PC base attached to the FPC flexible electrode cable, and a silicone base connected to the other end of the PC base. Mounting holes are provided on the PC base, and a number of contacts are distributed on the silicone base, and mounting contacts are provided around the mounting holes; in the present invention, the contact end of the FPC flexible electrode has a base made of a combination of medical PC material and silicone, with good mechanical strength and certain deformation ability. Mounting holes are provided on the base of the medical PC material, and it can be fixed to various bony structures using screws, and good contact with nerves is formed through the electrode contacts on the silicone base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of medical devices and biomedical engineering, and specifically to an FPC flexible electrode. Background Art

[0002] Implantable nerve electrodes are commonly used tools in the field of neuroelectrophysiology, and their types include needle electrodes, cuff electrodes, Utah electrodes, ECOG electrodes, and various forms (such as thin film, wire, etc.) of flexible electrodes. When monitoring nerve activities, appropriate electrodes can be selected according to the nerve morphology and characteristics of 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; flexible electrodes can adhere to the surfaces of various nerves.

[0003] Currently, 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, facial nerve, etc.), there is no good electrode implantation scheme. 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 adhere to the nerve surface, there is no good fixation scheme. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies existing in the prior art, and to provide an FPC flexible electrode with good mechanical strength and certain deformation ability. The technical solutions adopted by the present invention are as follows:

[0005] An FPC flexible electrode includes an FPC flexible electrode interface end, an FPC flexible electrode cable, and an FPC flexible electrode contact end; the FPC flexible electrode contact end includes a PC base that fits with the FPC flexible electrode cable, and a silicone base connected to the other end of the PC base. Mounting holes are provided on the PC base, and a number of contacts are distributed on the silicone base, and mounting contacts are provided around the mounting holes.

[0006] Preferably, the contacts on this FPC flexible electrode are prepared by an immersion gold process, having good electrical conductivity, antioxidant property, and biocompatibility.

[0007] Preferably, the silicone base is inclined outward relative to the PC base, specifically: the bottom surface of the silicone base with a number of contacts is the first bottom surface, and the bottom surface 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.

[0008] Preferably, the silicone base extends outward from the connection with the PC base and gradually thins to better fit the bone wall.

[0009] Finally, suture holes are reserved in the middle section of the FPC flexible electrode cable, and medical suture can be used to suture the electrode to the skin surface to enhance the installation firmness.

[0010] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: at the contact end of the FPC flexible electrode of the present invention, there is a base made of a combination of medical PC material and silicone, which has good mechanical strength and a certain deformation ability. Installation holes are provided on the base of the medical PC material, and screws can be used to fix it to various bony structures, and good contact with the nerve is formed through the electrode contacts on the silicone base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, obtaining other drawings based on these drawings still belongs to the scope of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 1 Structural diagram of FPC flexible electrode;

[0013] Figure 2 Structural diagram of the contact end of FPC flexible electrode;

[0014] Figure 3 Fixing example of the contact end of FPC flexible electrode;

[0015] Figure 4 Contact end of FPC flexible electrode not installed;

[0016] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of fixing FPC flexible electrode to the skin surface;

[0017] Figure 6 Interface of FPC flexible electrode;

[0018] In the figure, 11 - Interface end of FPC flexible electrode, 12 - FPC flexible electrode cable, 13 - Contact end of FPC flexible electrode, 14 - PC base, 15 - Silicone base, 16 - First contact, 17 - Second contact, 18 - Third contact, 19 - Fourth contact, 20 - Installation hole, 21 - Medical self-tapping screw, 22 - Installation contact, 23 - Bone wall, 24 - Exposed nerve, 25 - Skin, 26 - Perforation of FPC flexible electrode cable, 27 - Medical suture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0020] It should be noted that all the expressions using "first" and "second" in the embodiments of the present invention are used to distinguish two entities or parameters with the same name but different, so it can be seen that "first" and "second" are only for the convenience of expression and should not be construed as a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. This will not be elaborated one by one in the subsequent embodiments.

[0021] The direction and position terms mentioned in the present invention, such as "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "top", "bottom", "side", etc., are only with reference to the direction or position of the attached drawings. Therefore, the direction and position terms used are for explaining and understanding the present invention, rather than a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention.

[0022] Embodiment

[0023] An FPC flexible electrode includes an FPC flexible electrode interface end 11, an FPC flexible electrode cable 12, and an FPC flexible electrode contact end 13. Among them, the FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 has a PC base 14 that fits with the FPC flexible electrode cable 12 and a silicone base 15 connected to the PC base 14. An installation hole 20 is provided on the PC base 14. The silicone base 15 has good elasticity and can press the contact to the nerve surface. The first contact 16, the second contact 17, the third contact 18, and the fourth contact 19 are distributed on the silicone base 15, and the contacts are prepared by the immersion gold process for the stimulation circuit and the acquisition circuit; an installation contact 22 is provided outside the installation hole 20, which is also prepared by the immersion gold process.

[0024] The structure of the FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 is as Figure 2 shown, and the fixing method is as Figure 3 shown; the FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 uses a base made of medical PC material. The PC base 14 has good rigidity and can meet the support effect. The FPC flexible electrode contact end 13 is fixed to the bone 23B by a medical self-tapping screw 21.

[0025] The unfixed FPC flexible motor contact end is as Figure 4 shown. The flexible silicone base 15 will tilt forward due to its good elasticity. After installation, the tilt angle of the flexible silicone base 15 becomes smaller due to compression.

[0026] FPC flexible electrode cable perforations are arranged on the FPC flexible electrode cable 12. The method for fixing the FPC flexible electrode to the skin surface is: using a medical suture 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.

[0027] Finally, the corresponding relationship between the FPC flexible motor interface and the FPC flexible electrode contact end interface is shown in the following table.

[0028]

[0029] The above-disclosed are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Of course, the scope of the rights of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. Therefore, equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present invention still fall within the scope covered by 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); 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.

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) extends outwards from the connection with the PC base (14) and gradually becomes thinner.

4. 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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