A stimulation electrode for neuro-motor function recovery after spinal cord injury

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of stimulating electrodes for nerve motor function recovery after spinal cord injury, including catheter, stimulating electrode piece and guide wire;The cross section of the catheter is rectangular, two stimulating electrode pieces are a group, and a plurality of stimulating electrode pieces are arranged at fixed distance on the catheter, and each group of stimulating electrode pieces is arranged on the both sides outside the catheter respectively, and each stimulating electrode piece is connected with the outside by connecting the corresponding guide wire arranged in the catheter respectively;Soft barb is arranged above the same side of each stimulating electrode piece in the catheter.The stimulating electrode for nerve motor function recovery after spinal cord injury of the utility model is suitable for the electrical stimulation treatment of upper and lower limb motor dysfunction after spinal cord injury, can be applied to patients of different ages, and can effectively continuously stimulate the specific nerve root motor bundle of patient, with good curative effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electrodes, and specifically relates to a stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury. Background Technology

[0002] Since the central nervous system has almost no regenerative capacity, it is difficult to restore function through direct repair after central nervous system injury. Therefore, treating motor, sensory, and bowel and bladder dysfunction caused by central nervous system injury through peripheral nerve transfer has become a current research hotspot.

[0003] In recent years, Huashan Hospital in Shanghai has developed a new nerve transfer technique to treat upper limb dysfunction after stroke hemiplegia—the contralateral C7 transfer. This method can relieve spasticity of the affected upper limb and promote the recovery of upper limb motor function. It has now been applied in clinical practice, and the research results have been published in NEJM (The New England Journal of Medicine).

[0004] Kidney damage due to bladder dysfunction following spinal cord injury is the leading cause of death (43%–75%) in this group of patients. However, with the application of the somatic-vegetative nerve artificial reflex arc reconstruction surgery (The Xiao Procedure) invented by Professor Xiao Chuanguo, there has been a breakthrough in the treatment of bowel and bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Currently, the Xiao reflex arc theory is internationally recognized and has been included in the nationally unified textbook "Surgery" from the fourth to the latest tenth edition, winning the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award.

[0005] In recent years, neurostimulation technology has made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of spinal cord injuries and has been widely used in clinical practice, promoting the recovery of nerve function by placing stimulators epidurally. However, there are currently two major problems with the placement of stimulators: first, it is impossible to place them precisely on a specific nerve root; and second, it is impossible to place them precisely on the anterior or posterior root of a nerve root.

[0006] To reduce surgical trauma, lower the difficulty of surgery, and accelerate postoperative recovery, the team led by Dr. Cao Xiaojian at Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital pioneered a theoretical system for the precise separation of anterior and posterior roots via epidural anastomosis within the spinal canal. They discovered that only at the dorsal root ganglion does the anterior and posterior roots of the spinal nerve roots exist a loose connective tissue space. Within this space, the anterior and posterior roots of the spinal nerve can be easily identified and separated. Peripheral nerve transfer performed here allows for precise anastomosis of motor-motor and sensory-sensory nerve fibers, with the motor tract located ventral to the nerve root. This theory has been successfully applied by the project team to the treatment of motor dysfunction after spinal cord injury and limb dysfunction after hemiplegia following stroke, achieving good results. Based on this theory, the development of a specialized nerve stimulator allows for precise placement on the ventral side of the C5, 6, 7, 8, and T1 nerve roots, and the ventral side of the L2, 3, 4, and 5 nerve roots. Activation of stimulation can precisely restore upper and lower limb motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury, based on the theoretical system of precise separation of anterior and posterior roots in the epidural space within the spinal canal.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury, comprising: a catheter, stimulation electrode pads, and guide wires; the cross-section of the catheter is rectangular or elliptical, the stimulation electrode pads are arranged in groups of two, and the groups of stimulation electrode pads are arranged on the catheter at fixed intervals, each group of stimulation electrode pads is arranged on opposite sides of the outside of the catheter, and each stimulation electrode pad is connected to the outside by a corresponding guide wire arranged inside the catheter.

[0009] The catheter has soft barbs located below each set of stimulation electrode pads.

[0010] Furthermore, when the cross-section of the catheter is rectangular, the stimulation electrode pads are placed on both sides of the catheter with a larger outer surface area.

[0011] Furthermore, when the cross-section of the catheter is elliptical, the stimulation electrode pads are placed on opposite sides of the major axis of the ellipse outside the catheter.

[0012] Furthermore, the number of stimulation electrode pads is 2 to 5 sets.

[0013] Furthermore, a section of the catheter between each set of stimulation electrode pads is made of folded stretch tubing.

[0014] Furthermore, the guidewire employs a spiral structure in the folded stretch hose section.

[0015] Furthermore, the guide wire surface is provided with insulating material.

[0016] Furthermore, the soft barbs are in the shape of "1", "7" or arc.

[0017] This invention relates to a stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury. It is suitable for electrical stimulation therapy of upper and lower limb motor dysfunction after spinal cord injury, and can be applied to patients of different ages. It can effectively and precisely provide continuous electrical stimulation to specific nerve root motor tracts of the patient, and has good therapeutic effects. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the stimulation electrode in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0020] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those explicitly listed.

[0021] like Figure 1 The illustrated stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury includes: a catheter 1, a stimulation electrode pad 2, and a guidewire.

[0022] The catheter has a rectangular cross-section. There are four sets of stimulating electrodes arranged in pairs on the catheter at fixed intervals. Each set of electrodes is positioned on opposite sides of the catheter with a larger external surface area. Each electrode is connected to the external catheter via a guidewire positioned inside the catheter.

[0023] The catheter has a soft barb 3 located below each group of stimulation electrode pads. The soft barb is shaped like an "I". The soft barb can be directly fixed to the catheter, or it can be separated from the catheter before use. After the catheter is inserted into the nerve interneuron, the tail of the soft barb is fixed by inserting it into a slot provided with the catheter. The choice can be made according to the application.

[0024] The guidewire surface is covered with insulating material to ensure that each stimulation electrode can be controlled independently.

[0025] A section of the catheter between each set of stimulating electrode pads uses a foldable stretchable tubing 4, which can be extended. The folding method can be any method that achieves both folding and stretching effects; the attached diagram shows an accordion-style structure. Correspondingly, the guidewire uses a spiral structure in the foldable stretchable tubing section, allowing it to be extended accordingly when the catheter is stretched.

[0026] In use, the stimulation electrodes for the lower limbs employ four sets of electrode pads. Each set of electrode pads has soft barbs that can be attached to and secured to a nerve root on one side. The flexible, foldable tubing between each set of electrode pads allows for length adjustment based on individual patient needs, or, for patients in their developmental stage, can be adjusted to accommodate their growth. Each set of electrode pads is positioned directly opposite the nerves on both sides, and external control devices can be used to electrically stimulate the corresponding nerve roots as needed.

[0027] For the stimulation electrodes used on the upper limbs, five sets of stimulation electrode pads are used, and the usage method is the same.

[0028] The specific embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above. However, it should be noted that the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited to these specific embodiments, but is determined by the claims. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications to these embodiments without departing from the technical concept and spirit of this utility model, and these modified embodiments are obviously also included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A stimulation electrode for the recovery of neuromotor function after spinal cord injury, characterized in that... include: The catheter, stimulating electrode pads, and guidewires are provided. The cross-section of the catheter is rectangular or elliptical. The stimulating electrode pads are arranged in pairs, with the groups of stimulating electrode pads spaced at fixed intervals on the catheter. Each group of stimulating electrode pads is arranged on opposite sides of the outside of the catheter. Each stimulating electrode pad is connected to the outside by a corresponding guidewire arranged inside the catheter. The catheter has soft barbs located below each set of stimulation electrode pads.

2. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the cross-section of the catheter is rectangular, the stimulation electrode pads are placed on both sides of the catheter with a larger outer surface area.

3. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the cross-section of the catheter is elliptical, the stimulation electrode pads are placed on opposite sides of the major axis of the ellipse outside the catheter.

4. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of stimulation electrode pads is 2 to 5.

5. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conduit between each set of stimulation electrode pads is a folded stretch tubing.

6. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 5, characterized in that: The guidewire employs a spiral structure in the folded stretch hose section.

7. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide wire surface is provided with insulating material.

8. The stimulation electrode for restoring neuromotor function after spinal cord injury according to claim 1, characterized in that: The soft barbs are in the shape of "1", "7" or arc.

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