Membrane type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base for animal multi-brain-region nerve regulation

Abstract

The utility model discloses a membrane type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, which comprises a membrane type electrode base, concave electrode holes and injection cleaning holes, a plurality of concave electrode holes and one or more injection cleaning holes are arranged in the membrane type electrode base, the concave electrode holes are designed in a bolt mode, and the injection cleaning holes are designed in a bolt mode. The inner concave part is arranged in the membrane type electrode base and protrudes downwards to be connected with the skull; the injection cleaning hole is located in the edge of the membrane type electrode base, the membrane type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base makes contact with the animal skull, and the contact face is a tiny granular rough interface. According to the membrane type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, transcranial electrical stimulation of multiple brain areas can be achieved, the area of the contact face between the electrode base and the skull is increased, the fixing stability is improved, the electrode base can be prevented from being deformed and damaged, and the stability of the electrode base is improved. And the influence of infection, inflammation and other factors on the accuracy of the experiment and the death of experimental animals can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of neural regulation, and in particular relates to a membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base for neural regulation of multiple brain regions of animals. Background Art

[0002] Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) in animals is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that modulates brain activity by applying low-intensity electrical currents to the animal's scalp. The most common methods are transcranial direct current (DCS) and transcranial alternating current (ACS). Single or multiple electrodes are placed on the animal's scalp to apply weak DC or AC currents for intervention. TES in animals has the potential to regulate neural function, enhance neuroplasticity, and modulate emotion and behavior. It is widely used to study neural network function, neurorehabilitation, and the pathological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders in animal models.

[0003] Transcranial electrical stimulation of animals is often achieved by connecting wires to an electrode base pre-installed on the animal's scalp or skull. However, in practical applications, the electrode bases currently used still have some obvious shortcomings. First, in terms of fixation, the electrode base is generally fixed by solidifying a gel-like dental cement around the electrode, which has poor fixation stability. The upper half of the electrode base is mostly rod-shaped and protrudes from the cement surface. Experimental animals such as rats can cause the electrode base to shift, deform, damage, or even fall off through behaviors such as scratching. Second, in terms of brain stimulation, most electrode bases have single or double holes. After being fixed with dental cement, the brain areas that can be stimulated are limited, and other brain areas cannot be stimulated. The applicability is single and the flexibility is low. Researchers need to use multiple devices or conduct multiple experiments, which increases the complexity of the experiment and the suffering of the animals. In addition, in terms of biocompatibility, the use of the electrode base often requires peeling off part of the scalp to install it on the skull surface. This can cause infection and inflammatory reactions such as local redness, swelling, fever, pain, and pus secretion in the open scalp and other tissues, causing discomfort to the animals and reducing the accuracy of the experimental results. Therefore, we urgently need an electrode base that can achieve transcranial electrical stimulation of multiple brain regions, has good stability, and strong biocompatibility. Utility Model Content

[0004] To solve the above problems, the utility model proposes a membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, which can achieve electrical stimulation intervention on multiple brain regions while increasing fixation stability, and adopts highly biocompatible medical-grade silicone rubber material to reduce infection and inflammatory response.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, comprising: a membrane-type electrode base, a concave electrode hole, and an injection cleaning hole. The membrane-type electrode base is provided with multiple concave electrode holes and one or more injection cleaning holes. The concave electrode holes adopt a bolt-type design, are concavely arranged inside the membrane-type electrode base, and protrude downward to connect with the skull; the injection cleaning holes are located at the edge of the membrane-type electrode base. The material of the membrane-type electrode base is medical-grade silicone rubber, and the contact surface with the animal skull is a tiny granular rough interface.

[0006] Furthermore, the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base includes 3 to 9 concave electrode holes.

[0007] Furthermore, the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base includes 9 concave electrode holes.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the concave electrode hole is 2-5 mm.

[0009] Furthermore, there are four injection cleaning holes on the front, back, left and right sides of the edge of the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, and the injection cleaning holes are 1-2 mm away from the edge of the electrode array base.

[0010] Furthermore, the injection cleaning hole is used to inject antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve infection and inflammatory reactions at the wound.

[0011] Furthermore, the injection cleaning hole is used to extract local tissue exudate, blood congestion or pus.

[0012] Furthermore, the injection cleaning hole is cylindrical with an inner diameter of 0.5 mm.

[0013] Furthermore, the rough interface is composed of a number of hemispheres of the same size, with a frosted surface and a diameter of 0.1mm-0.3mm.

[0014] Preferably, the membrane-type electrode base is transparent.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. The utility model can achieve transcranial electrical stimulation of multiple brain regions, solving the problems of single applicability and low flexibility of previous electrical stimulation bases, reducing the experimental workload of researchers, and reducing the complexity of experiments and the suffering of animals.

[0017] 2. The utility model increases the contact area between the electrode base and the skull, which increases the stability after fixation with adhesives such as dental cement and reduces the chance of falling off;

[0018] 3. The electrode hole of this utility model adopts a concave bolt-type design, which can avoid deformation and damage of the electrode base caused by factors such as animal scratching;

[0019] 4. The utility model has added injection cleaning holes around the edges of the base, which can be used to inject antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs into scalp wounds and extract blood stasis, pus, etc., reducing the impact of infection, inflammation and other factors on the accuracy of the experiment and the death of experimental animals.

[0020] 5. The utility model is transparent, which helps to accurately locate the brain area when the base is installed, and in subsequent experiments, timely observe the inflammation of the tissue and check whether the base is displaced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a top view of the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a side view of the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base of the utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a front view of the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base of the present invention.

[0024] Reference numerals in the figure: 1 - concave electrode hole; 2 - injection cleaning hole; 3 - membrane-type electrode base; 4 - rough skull contact surface; 5 - skull. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0026] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0027] The present invention will be described in further detail below through specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] See also Figures 1 to 3An embodiment of the utility model provides a membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, comprising: a concave electrode hole 1, an injection cleaning hole 2, and a membrane-type electrode base 3. The membrane-type electrode base is made of medical-grade silicone rubber. The concave electrode hole adopts a bolt-type design, is concavely arranged inside the membrane-type electrode base, and protrudes downward to connect with the skull. The injection cleaning hole is located at the edge of the membrane-type electrode base.

[0029] The concave electrode hole 1 is circular with an inner diameter of 2-5 mm (adjusted according to the size of the animal's skull). It adopts a bolt-type design, is concavely arranged inside the membrane-type electrode base, and protrudes downward to connect with the skull, ensuring that the current only passes through the skull part in contact with the electrode hole. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base includes 3 to 9 concave electrode holes. In one embodiment, there are a total of 9 electrode base channels, which can be used for electrical stimulation intervention of multiple brain regions of animals, thereby improving the flexibility of the experiment, such as Figure 1 As shown. The multiple electrode hole design of this utility model enables simultaneous stimulation of multiple brain regions related to movement, emotion, or cognitive function, such as the motor cortex and prefrontal cortex, in rat or mouse models, thereby studying their synergistic effects in behavioral tasks. By adjusting the activation pattern of the array electrodes, different brain regions can be regulated individually or in combination. The concave bolt-shaped design prevents deformation and damage to the electrode base caused by factors such as animal scratching.

[0030] In one embodiment, the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base of the present invention can be used to apply the same electrical stimulation to multiple brain regions of a rat at the same time, and then the different responses of these brain regions to the same stimulation are compared by neural recording technology to reveal the specific response mechanism of different brain regions to the same external stimulation, thereby increasing the understanding of the regionalization of brain function. In the study of constructing animal models of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease), the present invention can be used to simultaneously stimulate and regulate multiple brain regions related to the disease and observe their role in the disease process. For example, the substantia nigra and striatum can be stimulated synchronously to study the effect of dopamine neuron degeneration on motor function.

[0031] In research on animal models of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease), this utility model can be used to simultaneously stimulate and modulate multiple disease-related brain regions to observe their roles in the disease process. For example, simultaneous stimulation of the substantia nigra and striatum can be used to study the effects of dopamine neuron degeneration on motor function.

[0032] The injection cleaning hole 2 is located at the edge of the membrane electrode base. It is a cylindrical hole that allows the base surface to communicate with the skull from top to bottom. The inner diameter is 0.5-1mm (adjusted according to the size of the animal's skull). It is 1-2mm from the edge of the base. In one embodiment, the edge of the membrane electrode base is provided with four injection cleaning holes on the front, back, left, and right sides. These holes can be used to inject antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate infection and inflammation in the wound. They can also be used to extract abnormal body fluids such as local tissue exudate, blood congestion, or pus.

[0033] The membrane electrode base 3 is made of medical-grade silicone rubber, has an overall oval shape, and a thickness of 1.5-3mm (adjusted to the size of the animal's skull). The contact surface with the animal's skull is a fine, granular, rough interface composed of several equally sized hemispheres with a frosted surface and a diameter of 0.1mm-0.3mm. This contact surface increases the contact area with fixatives such as dental cement, thereby improving the biocompatibility and stability of the base installation. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane electrode base 3 is entirely transparent, facilitating surface positioning of the skull during installation and timely observation of inflammation in surrounding tissues.

[0034] The flexible membrane design of this electrode array base has high biocompatibility and is suitable for long-term chronic neuromodulation experiments. The base can be fixed to the surface of the rat's skull for a long time, and multiple electrical stimulation experiments can be carried out to study the cumulative effects of long-term electrical stimulation on multiple brain regions and its impact on animal behavior and neural structure. Due to the flexibility of the base and the design of the injection cleaning hole, the burden on the animal can be reduced, the implant-related inflammatory response can be reduced, and the success rate of the experiment and the stability of the data can be improved. After brain injury or stroke, the electrode array base can be used to synergize multiple brain regions related to motor or cognitive functions in the brain to explore the role of cross-regional synergistic electrical stimulation in functional recovery. For example, after a stroke, the motor cortex and frontal cortex can be stimulated simultaneously to promote the recovery of damaged functions.

[0035] Researchers can use this electrode array base for neural circuit mapping. By stimulating different brain regions in various combinations and recording their neural activity, they can map the functional connectivity networks between brain regions. This application helps decode the information transmission pathways between brain regions and understand how specific functions are coordinated across different brain regions.

[0036] When using the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, the operating procedures are as follows:

[0037] Take the SD rats commonly used in the laboratory as an example:

[0038] 1. Expose the skull surface. After shaving the hair above the scalp, disinfect it with iodine and use medical scissors and forceps to cut the scalp just above the skull. Then, use hydrogen peroxide to oxidize and remove the periosteum to expose the skull surface.

[0039] 2. Positioning the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base of the present invention. The rat brain was fixed on a stereotaxic apparatus. The midline of the electrode array base was located along the sagittal suture in the anterior-posterior direction of the skull surface. The electrode hole at the center of the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base was located midway between the center of the anterior bregma and the apex of the lambdoid suture.

[0040] 3. Adhesive Fixation. After accurately positioning the membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, use the stereotaxic apparatus's clamp to gently press it against the skull surface. Fill the gap between the base and the skull with non-conductive, highly biocompatible transparent glue or dental cement. Once the glue or dental cement solidifies, the electrode base is secured to the skull surface.

[0041] 4. Electrical stimulation intervention. An external power source is selectively connected to the concave electrode base hole through the threaded electrode at the end of the wire, contacting the skull surface. Normal saline or conductive paste can be used to increase conductivity on the contact surface, thereby applying current to target different brain regions for relevant research.

[0042] 5. Daily Care. Because the material is transparent, after the electrode base is fixed, the skull surface and surrounding wounds can be directly observed for extravasation of tissue fluid, inflammation, infection, pus, or blood stasis. The micropores around the base can be used to extract pus, blood stasis, and other infected substances, and to inject antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, thereby extending the lifespan of experimental animals and reducing the impact of related problems on experimental results.

[0043] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications, improvements, and equivalent substitutions may be made to the present invention without departing from the principles of the present invention, and such modifications, improvements, and equivalent substitutions are deemed to fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, comprising a membrane-type electrode base, characterized in that: The membrane-type electrode base is provided with a plurality of concave electrode holes and one or more injection cleaning holes. The concave electrode holes are designed in a bolt-type manner, are concavely arranged inside the membrane-type electrode base, and protrude downward to connect with the skull; the injection cleaning holes are located at the edge of the membrane-type electrode base. The material of the membrane-type electrode base is medical-grade silicone rubber, and the contact surface with the animal skull is a tiny granular rough interface.

2. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: Includes 3 to 9 concave electrode holes.

3. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Includes 9 recessed electrode holes.

4. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the concave electrode hole is 2-5 mm.

5. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are four injection cleaning holes on the front, back, left and right sides of the edge of the membrane type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base, and the injection cleaning holes are 1-2 mm away from the edge of the electrode array base.

6. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The injection cleaning hole is used for injecting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate infection and inflammatory reactions at the wound.

7. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The injection cleaning hole is used to extract local tissue exudate, blood congestion or pus.

8. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The injection cleaning hole is cylindrical with an inner diameter of 0.5 mm.

9. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rough interface is composed of several hemispheres of the same size, with a frosted surface and a diameter of 0.1mm-0.3mm.

10. The membrane-type transcranial electrical stimulation electrode array base according to claim 1, characterized in that: The membrane-type electrode base is transparent.

Images