Interventional electroencephalogram signal acquisition stent

Abstract

Disclosed is an interventional electroencephalogram signal acquisition stent, belonging to the technical field of brain-computer interfaces in medical devices. The stent comprises a stent body, self-adaptive fitting structures, and electrodes. The stent body has a compressed state and an expanded state. The stent body in the expanded state is in the shape of a cylinder and is used for supporting the inner wall of a blood vessel. The self-adaptive fitting structures are arranged on the outer side of the stent body and are used for automatically adjusting the compression state of the blood vessel according to the deformation of the blood vessel, so as to ensure that the stent always fits the inner side wall of the blood vessel. The electrodes are arranged on the self-adaptive fitting structures and are used for collecting electroencephalogram signals. During operation, the stent body is transferred to a set position and automatically expands to a set shape, and the self-adaptive fitting structures automatically expand together with the expansion of the stent body and press the electrodes against the inner side wall of the blood vessel. The present solution is mainly used for solving the technical problems in the prior art such as unstable fitting of the electrodes, signal fluctuation, and position drift, which affect signal quality and system reliability.

Description

An interventional EEG signal acquisition stent Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of brain-computer interface technology in medical devices, and specifically relates to an interventional electroencephalogram (EEG) signal acquisition stent. Background Technology

[0002] Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a macroscopic recording of the electrical activity of brain neurons on the scalp or within the skull. Its frequency range is typically 0.5 Hz to 100 Hz, with the main signal concentration range being 1 Hz to 30 Hz. As a core tool for studying brain function, the acquisition and analysis of EEG signals are a crucial foundation for brain-computer interface technology.

[0003] Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a technology that establishes a direct communication channel between the brain and external devices. This technology collects and analyzes electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, converting neural activity into commands that can be recognized by computers or other devices, thereby enabling device control or information interaction. It has significant application value in fields such as medical assistance and human-computer interaction.

[0004] Interventional EEG signal acquisition devices typically utilize minimally invasive interventional techniques. A stent containing electrode pads for signal acquisition is delivered via the vascular system to the wall of a blood vessel in a specific region of the brain. The stent lies close to the vessel wall within the blood vessel, allowing the electrode pads to make close contact with brain tissue, thereby acquiring high-quality EEG signals. These signals reflect the activity of brain neurons and, after processing and analysis, can be used in various brain-computer interface applications, such as controlling external devices and assisting in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. During EEG signal acquisition, the stability of the contact between the electrode pads and brain tissue, as well as the accuracy of signal acquisition, are key factors affecting the performance of the brain-computer interface system.

[0005] Existing electrode pads are usually fixed directly on the outside of the stent. After the stent is released into the blood vessel, it automatically expands and fits the blood vessel, so that the electrode pads on the outside of the stent can directly contact the inside of the blood vessel. However, this fitting method is prone to axial bending of the stent as the blood vessel wall is elastic and pulsates. This stent deformation will affect the fit between the electrode pads on the outer wall of the stent and the inner wall of the blood vessel, which will lead to problems such as unstable electrode pad fit, signal fluctuation, and position drift, seriously affecting signal quality and system reliability.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved technical solution that addresses the shortcomings of the existing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an interventional EEG signal acquisition stent to solve the technical problems in the prior art, such as unstable electrode pad adhesion, signal fluctuation, and positional drift, which affect signal quality and system reliability.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0009] An interventional EEG signal acquisition scaffold, comprising:

[0010] The stent body has a compressed state and an expanded state. In the expanded state, the stent body is cylindrical and is used to support the inner wall of the blood vessel.

[0011] An adaptive fitting structure is provided on the outside of the stent body to automatically adjust the compression state of the blood vessel according to the deformation of the blood vessel, so as to ensure that it always fits the inner wall of the blood vessel.

[0012] Electrode pads, which are disposed on an adaptive fitting structure, are used to collect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals;

[0013] During operation, the stent body is delivered to the set position and automatically expands to the set shape. The adaptive fitting structure automatically unfolds as the stent body expands and presses the electrode pads firmly against the inner wall of the blood vessel.

[0014] As a further optimized technical solution, the adaptive fitting structure includes multiple elastic support arms arranged at intervals along the axial and circumferential directions of the stent body. One end of each elastic support arm is connected to the stent body, and the other end is used to press against the inner wall of the blood vessel. The electrode pad is disposed at the end of the elastic support arm that presses against the inner wall of the blood vessel.

[0015] As a further optimized technical solution, the elastic support arm is arc-shaped, and during operation, the end of the elastic support arm away from the stent body is in tangential contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel.

[0016] As a further optimized technical solution, the elastic support arm has a support section and a pressing section. The support section is located on the side close to the support body, and the hardness of the support section is greater than that of the pressing section.

[0017] As a further optimized technical solution, the curvature of the pressing section is greater than that of the supporting section.

[0018] As a further optimized technical solution, both the support section and the clamping section are made of shape memory alloy, and the thickness of the support section is greater than the thickness of the clamping section.

[0019] As a further optimized technical solution, the support section is made of shape memory alloy, and the clamping section is made of shape memory polymer.

[0020] As a further optimized technical solution, the support body has a densely distributed area, and the electrode sheet arrangement density in the densely distributed area is greater than that in other areas of the support body.

[0021] As a further optimized technical solution, the densely distributed area is arranged axially and / or circumferentially around the support body.

[0022] As a further optimized technical solution, the support body is integrally woven using filamentous nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material.

[0023] Beneficial effects: First, traditional EEG signal acquisition stents are susceptible to electrode instability due to the elasticity and pulsation of blood vessel walls, resulting in poor signal quality. This invention, through the design of an adaptive fitting structure, dynamically adjusts the pressure on the blood vessel wall based on its real-time morphology and stress conditions when the blood vessel deforms. This adaptive adjustment mechanism ensures that the electrode pads are always in close contact with the blood vessel wall, unaffected by stent deformation. Furthermore, this structure further enhances the support for the blood vessel wall on top of the expansion support force of the stent body, greatly reducing signal fluctuations and positional drift caused by unstable fitting. This results in a qualitative leap in the stability and accuracy of EEG signal acquisition, providing a stable and reliable signal source for the brain-computer interface system and effectively guaranteeing the overall performance and reliability of the system.

[0024] Furthermore, the adaptive fitting structure is an elastic support arm with an arc-shaped design. During operation, the end furthest from the stent body makes tangential contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel. Compared to the traditional stent fitting method, this contact mode can evenly distribute pressure over a larger contact area, effectively avoiding local pressure concentration. Even under dynamic conditions such as vascular pulsation, the pressure on the blood vessel wall can be controlled within a safe range, significantly reducing the risk of damage to the blood vessel due to excessive pressure. This greatly improves the safety of stent use inside the human body, reduces the probability of postoperative complications, and provides more reliable protection for the patient's health.

[0025] Furthermore, the elastic support arm is divided into a support section and a compression section, with differentiated designs in terms of hardness and curvature. The support section, closer to the stent body, has greater hardness, providing a solid and stable support foundation for the entire elastic support arm and ensuring that it will not undergo severe deformation or failure under various complex conditions. The less rigid compression section, on the other hand, possesses excellent flexibility, allowing it to closely conform to the subtle undulations and irregular shapes of the blood vessel wall surface, achieving comprehensive and high-precision contact with the vessel wall. Simultaneously, the greater curvature design of the compression section enables the elastic support arm to produce more reasonable and efficient deformation under stress, further enhancing the fit and ensuring stable contact between the electrode pads and the blood vessel wall, thereby continuously and stably acquiring high-quality EEG signals.

[0026] Furthermore, the densely distributed electrode pads on the scaffold can be flexibly arranged axially and / or circumferentially around the scaffold according to the functional characteristics of different brain regions and the requirements for EEG signal acquisition. For example, setting a densely distributed electrode pad in the scaffold corresponding to the brain's motor control area (such as the area near the motor cortex in the middle segment of the superior sagittal sinus) can specifically acquire more and more detailed EEG signals from that area, effectively avoiding the omission of key signals. This precise data acquisition method significantly improves the quality and efficiency of signal acquisition, providing richer and more accurate data support for subsequent brain-computer interface applications such as motor control and disease diagnosis based on EEG signals. It helps researchers and medical workers to understand the activity of brain neurons more deeply and accurately, promoting the development of brain science research and clinical medicine.

[0027] Furthermore, the stent body is made of filamentous nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material and manufactured through an integrated braiding process. The integrated braided stent body has greater overall strength and stability, enabling it to maintain structural integrity and reliably support the vascular wall in the complex environment of the human blood vessels. At the same time, the nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material has unique shape memory and superelastic properties, allowing the stent body to flexibly and stably switch between compressed and expanded states. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 is a front view schematic diagram of an embodiment of the interventional EEG signal acquisition stent of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a side view schematic diagram of an embodiment of the interventional EEG signal acquisition stent of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the usage state of an embodiment of the interventional EEG signal acquisition stent of the present invention.

[0032] In the figure: 1. Stent body; 2. Blood vessel; 3. Adaptive fitting structure; 301. Support section; 302. Compression section; 4. Electrode pad. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] In the description of this invention, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," and "bottom," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and do not require the invention to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. The terms "connected" and "linked" used in this invention should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection or a detachable connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through intermediate components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the term "proximal end" uniformly refers to the end closer to the operator, while "distal end" refers to the end farther from the operator.

[0035] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other.

[0036] The shapes and sizes of the components in the accompanying drawings do not reflect the actual proportions of the product; they are only intended to illustrate the content of the invention.

[0037] This invention provides an interventional EEG signal acquisition stent, comprising a stent body 1 in both compressed and expanded states for supporting the inner wall of a blood vessel 2; an adaptive fitting structure 3 located on the outer side of the stent body 1, which automatically adjusts the compression state according to the deformation of the blood vessel 2 to ensure close contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel 2; and electrode pads 4 disposed on the adaptive fitting structure 3 for acquiring EEG signals. The adaptive fitting structure 3 includes multiple spaced elastic support arms, each having a support section 301 and a compression section 302, optimizing the fit. The stent body 1 has a densely distributed area of ​​electrode pads 4, integrally woven from filamentous nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material. This invention effectively improves the stability and accuracy of EEG signal acquisition, reduces the risk of vascular injury, facilitates surgical procedures, and has promising application prospects in the field of brain-computer interfaces.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the interventional EEG signal acquisition scaffold includes a scaffold body 1, an adaptive fitting structure 3 and electrode pads 4.

[0040] The stent body 1 is manufactured using a filamentous nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material through an integrated braiding process. This gives the stent body 1 excellent overall strength and stability, allowing it to maintain structural integrity even in the complex environment of human blood vessels and reliably support the inner wall of the blood vessel 2. The stent body 1 has two states: a compressed state and an expanded state. In the compressed state, the stent body 1 is small in size, making it easy to deliver to the target blood vessel location via an interventional catheter. Once it reaches the designated location, utilizing the unique shape memory and superelastic properties of the nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material, the stent body 1 automatically expands to the predetermined cylindrical shape, tightly fitting and supporting the inner wall of the blood vessel 2, providing a stable foundation for subsequent signal acquisition.

[0041] An adaptive fitting structure 3 is disposed on the outside of the stent body 1 to automatically adjust the compression state of the blood vessel 2 according to the deformation of the blood vessel 2, so as to ensure that it always fits the inner wall of the blood vessel 2. In this embodiment, the adaptive fitting structure 3 consists of multiple elastic support arms arranged at intervals along the axial and circumferential directions of the stent body 1. The elastic support arm is a thin sheet structure, the width of which is parallel to the axial direction of the stent body 1. One end of the elastic support arm is connected to the stent body 1, and the other end extends away from the stent body 1 to compress the inner wall of the blood vessel 2. The elastic support arm is designed to be arc-shaped. During operation, the end away from the stent body 1 makes tangential contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel 2. This contact mode can evenly distribute the pressure over a large contact area. Even under dynamic conditions such as pulsation of the blood vessel 2, it can effectively avoid local pressure concentration and control the pressure on the wall of the blood vessel 2 within a safe range. Each elastic support arm has a support section 301 and a compression section 302. The support section 301 is close to the stent body 1. Compared with the compression section 302, its rigidity is increased by increasing the material thickness or adjusting the material, providing a solid and stable support foundation for the entire elastic support arm and ensuring that the elastic support arm will not undergo serious deformation or failure under various complex conditions. The compression section 302, by reducing its thickness or using a more flexible material, such as a shape memory polymer with a specific formulation, has better flexibility than the support section 301 while possessing a certain elasticity. It can closely conform to the fine undulations and irregular shapes of the blood vessel wall surface, achieving all-round, high-precision conformation to the blood vessel wall, and is less likely to damage the blood vessel 2.

[0042] Electrode pads 4 are positioned at the end of the elastic support arm that presses against the inner wall of the blood vessel. Made of highly sensitive conductive material, electrode pads 4 can accurately capture weak EEG signals. All electrode pads 4 are arranged along the stent body 1 via flexible conductive lines and converge at one end of the stent body 1. Finally, all converged flexible conductive lines are connected to an external signal transmission device for interaction with external equipment. The stent body 1 also features a densely distributed area where the electrode pads 4 are arranged at a higher density than in other areas of the stent body 1. This densely distributed area can be flexibly arranged axially and / or circumferentially around the stent body according to the functional characteristics of different brain regions and the requirements for EEG signal acquisition. For example, a densely distributed electrode area can be positioned at the stent site corresponding to the brain's motor control area (such as the area near the motor cortex in the middle segment of the superior sagittal sinus) to specifically acquire more and more detailed EEG signals from that area, effectively avoiding the omission of crucial signals.

[0043] Furthermore, the compression section 302 of the elastic support arm has a greater curvature than the support section 301. This allows the compression section 302 to undergo more deformation under stress, better buffering and absorbing external forces when the blood vessel 2 pulsates or when pressure changes occur due to body activity. In contrast, the support section 301 has a smaller curvature, focusing more on providing a stable support base. Together, these two components allow the elastic support arm to provide stable support while flexibly responding to changes in external pressure, effectively reducing the risk of deformation of the stent body 1 or displacement of the electrode pad 4 due to sudden pressure changes. Additionally, the inner wall of the cerebral blood vessel 2 is not a perfectly smooth surface, but contains subtle undulations and bends. The greater curvature of the compression section 302 better adapts to the complex surface morphology of the blood vessel wall, penetrating deeper into the depressions of the blood vessel wall to achieve closer and more comprehensive contact. This design increases the contact area between the electrode pad 4 and the blood vessel wall, thereby ensuring the stability and accuracy of EEG signal acquisition.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, both the support segment 301 and the clamping segment 302 of the elastic support arm are made of shape memory alloy. In this case, to ensure the difference in hardness between the support segment 301 and the clamping segment 302, the thickness of the support segment 301 is greater than the thickness of the clamping segment 302. In other embodiments, the support segment 301 is made of shape memory alloy, and the clamping segment 302 is made of shape memory polymer.

[0045] In practical use, the stent body 1 is compressed and loaded into the interventional catheter. Through femoral artery puncture, the catheter is slowly delivered along the vascular pathway to the target blood vessel 2 in the mid-segment of the superior sagittal sinus near the motor cortex. Once the stent body 1 reaches the predetermined position, due to body temperature, the nickel-titanium alloy stent body 1 automatically expands, simultaneously causing the adaptive fitting structure 3 to unfold. The elastic support arm dynamically adjusts the pressure on the blood vessel wall based on its shape and pressure changes, ensuring that the electrode pad 4 fits tightly against the inner wall of the blood vessel. At this point, the electrode pad 4 begins to collect electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from the brain's motor control region and transmits the signals through flexible conductive lines to external signal processing equipment for analysis and processing, successfully achieving the acquisition of high-quality EEG signals from a specific brain region.

[0046] In summary, the interventional EEG signal acquisition scaffold provided by this invention, through its unique structural design and reasonable material selection, effectively solves the technical problem of unstable EEG signal acquisition in the prior art, and has good application prospects and promotion value in the field of brain-computer interface.

[0047] It is understood that the above description is merely exemplary and the embodiments of this application do not limit the scope of the application.

[0048] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be within the scope of protection of the pending claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An interventional electroencephalogram (EEG) signal acquisition stent, characterized in that, include: The stent body (1) has a compressed state and an expanded state. The expanded state of the stent body (1) is cylindrical and is used to support the inner wall of the blood vessel (2). An adaptive fitting structure (3) is provided on the outside of the stent body (1) to automatically adjust the compression state of the blood vessel (2) according to the deformation of the blood vessel (2) so as to ensure that it always fits the inner wall of the blood vessel (2). Electrode pads (4) are disposed on the adaptive fitting structure (3) for collecting electroencephalogram (EEG) signals; During operation, the stent body (1) is transported to the set position and automatically expands to the set shape. The adaptive fitting structure (3) automatically unfolds as the stent body (1) expands and presses the electrode pad (4) onto the inner wall of the blood vessel (2).

2. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adaptive fitting structure (3) includes multiple elastic support arms arranged at intervals along the axial and circumferential directions of the stent body (1). One end of the elastic support arm is connected to the stent body (1), and the other end is used to press against the inner wall of the blood vessel (2). The electrode plate (4) is disposed at the end of the elastic support arm that presses against the inner wall of the blood vessel (2).

3. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic support arm is arc-shaped. When working, the end of the elastic support arm away from the stent body (1) is in tangential contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel (2).

4. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic support arm has a support section (301) and a pressing section (302). The support section (301) is located on the side close to the support body (1), and the hardness of the support section (301) is greater than that of the pressing section (302).

5. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 4, characterized in that, The curvature of the pressing section (302) is greater than that of the supporting section (301).

6. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support section (301) and the pressing section (302) are both made of shape memory alloy, and the thickness of the support section (301) is greater than the thickness of the pressing section (302).

7. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support section (301) is made of shape memory alloy, and the clamping section (302) is made of shape memory polymer.

8. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The support body (1) has a densely distributed area, and the electrode sheets (4) in the densely distributed area are arranged at a higher density than in other areas of the support body (1).

9. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to claim 8, characterized in that, The densely distributed area is arranged axially and / or circumferentially around the support body (1).

10. The interventional EEG signal acquisition stent according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The support body (1) is integrally woven using filamentous nickel-titanium alloy or superelastic material.

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