Directional electrode and nerve stimulation system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of nerve stimulation. Disclosed are a directional electrode and a nerve stimulation system. The directional electrode comprises: an electrode body; and an electrode contact mounted on the electrode body, wherein the electrode contact has a plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface can independently serve as a stimulation source and / or a signal acquisition point, and at least two contact surfaces among the plurality of contact surfaces respectively face different directions, so that the electrode contact has a plurality of stimulation directions and / or a plurality of signal acquisition directions. The directional electrode according to embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a more comprehensive coverage of stimulation electric field and / or signal acquisition.

Description

Directional electrodes and nerve stimulation system Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on November 29, 2024, with application number 202411744822.0 and entitled "Directional Electrode and Nerve Stimulation System". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to the field of neurostimulation technology. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a directional electrode and a neurostimulation system. Background Technology

[0003] Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a treatment method that delivers electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain via implanted electrodes. It has been shown to be effective in treating various neurological disorders and mental illnesses. In recent years, with advancements in medical research, it has become increasingly clear that the direction of the stimulation points after electrode implantation and the intensity of the stimulation pulses have a significant impact on treatment outcomes.

[0004] There are two main types of existing electrode structures: ring electrodes and directional electrodes. As shown in Figure 1(a), the stimulation end of a traditional ring electrode has a ring electrode contact 101, the stimulation direction of which cannot be controlled, making it difficult to achieve precise stimulation and modulation. Furthermore, when used for EEG signal acquisition, the signal acquisition range is limited, and the direction and source of the acquired EEG signal cannot be determined. As shown in Figures 1(b) and (c), the stimulation end of a traditional directional electrode (or segmented electrode, directional electrode) has radially segmented electrode pieces (or electrode contacts) 102, giving it multiple controllable stimulation directions. However, although the electrode pieces 102 of existing directional electrodes can have different shapes and distributions, the direction of their stimulation points is still limited to the radial direction of the electrode, and when used for EEG signal acquisition, only EEG signals from the radial direction of the electrode can be acquired.

[0005] Furthermore, existing ring electrodes and directional electrodes require at least two electrode contacts, serving as negative and positive contacts respectively to create a stimulating electric field, or to acquire EEG signals based on the potential difference between the two electrode contacts. Therefore, the number of electrode contacts on existing ring and directional electrodes determines the coverage of their stimulating electric field and signal acquisition. However, the number of positions on an electrode is limited, thus restricting the coverage of its stimulating electric field and signal acquisition.

[0006] In view of this, there is an urgent need to provide a new electrode scheme for nerve stimulation, so as to provide a more comprehensive coverage of stimulation electric field and / or signal acquisition without being limited by the number of contacts. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to at least address one or more of the technical problems mentioned above, this disclosure proposes a scheme for a directional electrode and a neurostimulation system in several aspects.

[0008] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a directional electrode, comprising: an electrode body; and an electrode contact mounted on the electrode body, wherein the electrode contact has a plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface being independently usable as a stimulation source and / or a signal acquisition point, and at least two of the plurality of contact surfaces facing different directions, such that the electrode contact has a plurality of stimulation directions and / or a plurality of signal acquisition directions.

[0009] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the contact surfaces of the electrode contacts are protruding and / or recessed on the electrode body.

[0010] In other embodiments, the directional electrode includes a plurality of electrode contacts that are protruding and / or recessed on the electrode body.

[0011] In some embodiments, the plurality of contact surfaces include a bottom surface and at least two side surfaces, wherein the angle between each side surface and the bottom surface is an obtuse angle.

[0012] In other embodiments, the plurality of contact surfaces are distributed in a honeycomb pattern.

[0013] In some other embodiments, the plurality of contact surfaces are arranged in a ring shape so that the back surfaces of the plurality of contact surfaces enclose a hollow structure, which facilitates the placement of the electrode body therein.

[0014] In some embodiments, the electrode contacts further include: a chamfered surface disposed at the junction of the plurality of contact surfaces, and / or at the exposed edge of one or more contact surfaces.

[0015] In other embodiments, a gap exists between adjacent edges of at least two adjacent contact surfaces of the plurality of contact surfaces, and / or an insulating isolation layer is provided.

[0016] In other embodiments, all of the plurality of contact surfaces are planar; or at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces is curved; or at least one of the plurality of contact surfaces has an uneven surface structure.

[0017] In a second aspect, this disclosure provides a neurostimulation system including the directional electrodes described in any of the second aspects of this disclosure.

[0018] In some embodiments, the neurostimulation system further includes a stimulator, and each contact surface of the electrode contacts in the directional electrodes is independently connected to the stimulator.

[0019] In other embodiments, the neural stimulation system further includes a control unit for selectively activating one or more contact surfaces of at least one electrode contact of the directional electrode according to the relative position of the directional electrode to the target stimulation region.

[0020] In some other embodiments, the control unit is further configured to: measure the action potential induced by the stimulus generated by each contact surface or combination of contact surfaces; determine the contact surface of the effective stimulus based on the measured action potential; and select the contact surface of the determined effective stimulus for subsequent stimulation.

[0021] In some embodiments, the control unit is further configured to: assign a weighted distribution of stimulation intensity to different contact surfaces of the electrode contacts in order to reduce stimulation of non-target areas.

[0022] Through the directional electrode and neurostimulation system scheme provided above, this embodiment discloses a directional electrode with multiple contact surfaces mounted on the electrode body. Each contact surface can independently serve as a stimulation source and / or signal acquisition point, and the multiple contact surfaces face different directions, allowing a single electrode contact to have multiple stimulation directions and / or multiple signal acquisition directions. This directional electrode can provide a more comprehensive and three-dimensional electric field line shape and / or signal acquisition range without relying on the number of electrode contacts. It not only more promptly and effectively activates more neurons with different structures when emitting stimulation signals, improving the efficiency and accuracy of neurostimulation, but also facilitates the acquisition of EEG signals from more directions, enabling more comprehensive analysis and identification of brain activity, and more accurate localization of the source and direction of neural activity. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will become readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, several embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation, and like or corresponding reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts, wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of several existing electrode structures;

[0025] Figure 2 illustrates the principle of how the orientation of a neuron affects the charge it receives;

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates the principle that the irregularity of axon shape in an electric field leads to unexpected axon excitation.

[0027] Figure 4a shows a front view schematic diagram of directional electrodes according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 4b shows a top view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 4a;

[0029] Figure 4c shows a side view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 4a;

[0030] Figure 4d shows a top view of a directional electrode in which electrode contacts are recessed in the electrode body, according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 5a shows a front view schematic diagram of directional electrodes according to some other embodiments of this disclosure;

[0032] Figure 5b shows a top view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5a;

[0033] Figure 5c shows some application scenarios of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5a;

[0034] Figure 5d shows a partial side view of a directional electrode in which multiple electrode contacts are recessed in the electrode body according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0035] Figure 5e shows a schematic diagram of directional electrodes with recessed and convex electrode contacts respectively, according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 5f shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode in which a portion of the contact surface is recessed on the electrode body, according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 5g shows a schematic diagram of directional electrodes with recessed and protruding contact surfaces on the electrode body in some other embodiments of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 6a shows a schematic diagram of electrode contacts in which multiple contact surfaces are distributed in a honeycomb pattern according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0039] Figure 6b shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode with the electrode contacts shown in Figure 6a installed;

[0040] Figure 7a shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode comprising a plurality of contact surfaces arranged in a ring shape, according to some embodiments of this disclosure.

[0041] Figure 7b shows a top cross-sectional view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 7a;

[0042] Figure 8a shows a schematic diagram of electrode contacts including chamfered surfaces according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 8b shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode with electrode contacts as shown in Figure 8a;

[0044] Figure 8c shows a top cross-sectional view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 8b;

[0045] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of an electrode contact according to yet another embodiment of this disclosure;

[0046] Figure 10a shows a schematic block diagram of a neural stimulation system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 10b shows a schematic block diagram of a neural stimulation system according to other embodiments of this disclosure;

[0048] Figure 11 shows a partial schematic diagram of a directional electrode according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this disclosure, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0050] It should be understood that the terms “comprising” and “including” used in this disclosure and claims indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0051] It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. As used in this disclosure and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in this disclosure and claims refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes such combinations.

[0052] As used in this specification and claims, the term "if" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "when," "once," "in response to determination," or "in response to detection." Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if [described condition or event] is detected" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "once determined," "in response to determination," "once [described condition or event] is detected," or "in response to detection of [described condition or event]."

[0053] The inventors have discovered that the electrode contacts of existing ring electrodes and directional electrodes are all smooth, flat, sheet-like structures. This is because current designs and improvements to electrode contacts are based on the ideal state of smooth and regular orientation of neuronal axonal structures. However, research has shown that axons repeatedly branch near their terminals, and their ends can form complex structures. Furthermore, some axons have the smallest and most irregular diameters in deeper regions. These studies indicate that although axons may be relatively uniform in some parts, they are not always smooth and regular overall, and their orientation is unpredictable.

[0054] Further research revealed that effective stimulation in DBS requires neuronal depolarization. To depolarize neurons, charge must be transferred to them to alter the neuronal membrane potential, thereby affecting voltage-gated ion conduction channels. Therefore, the orientation of the electric field generated by the charge relative to the neuronal membrane is crucial. Charge flows from the negative electrode to the positive electrode. Neurons perpendicular to the electric field lines from the negative electrode receive the charge, thus affecting the neuronal transmembrane potential and even depolarizing the neuronal membrane to generate action potentials. Neurons parallel to the electric field lines do not receive the charge and therefore do not generate action potentials. For clarity, Figures 2 and 3 are used in the following explanation.

[0055] Figure 2 illustrates the principle of how the orientation of a neuron affects its charge reception. As shown in Figure 2, when the DBS outputs a stimulation signal, negatively charged ions (shown as teardrop-shaped patterns in Figure 2) move from the cathode to the anode of the electrode. When the neuronal cell membrane travels perpendicular to the ion flow along the electric field lines (for example, when the direction of axon A of the neuron is perpendicular to the direction of the negative charge on the electric field lines), it can be considered that negative charges accumulate on the surface of axon A. When enough negative charges accumulate on the surface of axon A, the neuronal cell membrane depolarizes beyond a certain threshold, and an action potential is generated at axon A. When axon B travels parallel to the negative charge, negative charges do not accumulate on the neuronal cell membrane but continue to flow through it. Therefore, charges do not accumulate on the surface of axon B, the neuronal cell membrane does not depolarize, and no action potential is generated.

[0056] Figure 3 illustrates the principle by which the irregularity of axon shape in an electric field leads to unexpected axonal excitation. As shown in Figure 3, in this example, axon 301 runs generally parallel to the electric field lines and charge flow. Such an orientation would normally not generate an action potential. However, because axon 301 is irregular, with an "S"-shaped curve, a small region 302 of axon 301 is relatively perpendicular to the electric field lines. Negative charge can accumulate in this small region 302, allowing the cell membrane to depolarize. If depolarization is sufficient, it may lead to the generation of an action potential, which can be conducted through the rest of axon 301.

[0057] Based on the above analysis, it can be seen that although the direction of the electric field lines relative to the neuron (usually the axon) is important, the irregular shape of the neuronal axon makes it difficult to predict the direction of the electric field lines that can depolarize the neuron. This is a problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Existing stimulation electrodes do not consider the relationship between the orientation and structure of the neurons in the target area and the direction of the electric field lines when implanted into the target area. Therefore, it is very likely that the orientation of neurons near the electrode contact is largely consistent with the direction of the electric field lines. To generate an action potential, the current or voltage must be increased, which can cause damage to human tissue and is not energy-efficient. Furthermore, the sheet-like electrode contacts of existing stimulation electrodes result in a single direction of the electric field lines formed by the electrode, which cannot be flexibly adjusted and makes it difficult to achieve effective stimulation for a short period of time.

[0058] Based on this, this disclosure aims to provide a directional electrode with electrode contacts mounted in a three-dimensional structure, enabling it to generate more stimulation directions, thereby forming electric field lines of more shapes and a wider distribution range. This increases the flexibility of the configuration of the stimulation electric field shape and the effectiveness of the charge acting on neurons, thereby activating more neurons with different structures and directions. It also enables the acquisition of EEG signals from more directions and covers a larger signal acquisition range. The specific embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] Figure 4a shows a front view of a directional electrode according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 4b shows a top view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 4a. Figure 4c shows a side view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 4a. As shown in Figures 4a-4c, the directional electrode 500 may include an electrode body 501 and electrode contacts 400 mounted on the electrode body 501. The electrode contacts 400 may have multiple contact surfaces (e.g., a bottom surface 401 and two side surfaces 402 as shown in the figures), wherein each contact surface can independently serve as a stimulation source and / or a signal acquisition point, and at least two of the multiple contact surfaces face different directions, such that the electrode contacts 400 have multiple stimulation directions and / or multiple signal acquisition directions.

[0060] Electrode contacts 400 are typically mounted at one end of the electrode body 501 as the stimulation end and / or signal acquisition end of the directional electrode 500. The other end of the electrode body 501 is used to connect to a stimulator / pulse generator / signal acquisition device to transmit stimulation signals and / or acquired physiological electrical signals (e.g., electroencephalogram signals). The electrode body 501 can be elongated, and the electrode contacts 400 can be mounted on the outer surface of the electrode body 501. In some embodiments, the electrode body 501 may include a housing, and the electrode contacts 400 can be mounted on the housing. In other embodiments, the electrode body 501 may also include structures such as conduits (e.g., TPU tubes), guides, or supports to provide support and channels for the wires connected to the contact surfaces.

[0061] The directional electrode 500 may include one or more electrode contacts, at least one of which may have multiple contact surfaces, or each of the one or more electrode contacts may have multiple contact surfaces. Each contact surface of the electrode contact 400 with multiple contact surfaces can be independently connected to a stimulator / pulse generator / signal acquisition device by, for example, connecting an independent wire (or a transmission medium with signal transmission function such as a metal wire), so that each contact surface of the electrode contact 400 can be individually controlled as an independent stimulation source and / or signal acquisition point, thereby allowing each contact surface to be independently set with stimulation parameters (including stimulation intensity, stimulation duration, amplitude, frequency, etc.) and / or acquisition parameters (including, for example, acquisition duration, sampling rate, etc.).

[0062] In this paper, the stimulus source refers to the source of the stimulus signal emitted by the neuron. The signal acquisition point refers to the acquisition point used to acquire physiological electrical signals. According to this configuration, multiple contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 can emit stimulus signals simultaneously or at different times, and these multiple contact surfaces can emit the same or different stimulus signals. For example, in some embodiments, some contact surfaces can emit stimulus signals while others can not. The multiple contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 can acquire physiological electrical signals simultaneously or at different times, and these multiple contact surfaces can acquire physiological electrical signals according to the same or different acquisition parameters. For example, in some embodiments, some contact surfaces can acquire physiological electrical signals while others can not. Furthermore, in other embodiments, some contact surfaces are used to emit stimulus signals while others are used to acquire physiological electrical signals, thus enabling simultaneous acquisition of physiological electrical signals during nerve stimulation, which is beneficial for real-time monitoring of the stimulation effect.

[0063] In some embodiments, the material of the plurality of contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 may all be metal. In other embodiments, at least two of the plurality of contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 may be directly connected or indirectly connected. In still other embodiments, the plurality of contact surfaces may not be connected to each other. In some embodiments, the shape and size of the plurality of contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 may be the same or different. In other embodiments, the plurality of contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 may all be polygonal.

[0064] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4b, the multiple contact surfaces can each face in different directions and can independently serve as stimulation sources and / or signal acquisition points, so that the electrode contact 400 has multiple independently controllable stimulation directions and / or multiple independently controllable signal acquisition directions. For example, in the figure, the bottom surface 401 faces the first direction F1, and the two side surfaces 402 face the second direction F2 and the third direction F3, respectively. The first direction F1, the second direction F2, and the third direction F3 are different directions, so that the electrode contact 400 has at least three stimulation directions and / or three signal acquisition directions: the first direction F1, the second direction F2, and the third direction F3.

[0065] In some embodiments, the included angle between at least two adjacent contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 can be an obtuse angle, a right angle, or an acute angle. Compared to acute and right angles, an obtuse angle between adjacent contact surfaces makes the electrode contact 400 smoother overall and less likely to damage surrounding tissues. For example, as shown in Figure 4b, the included angle α between each side surface 402 and the bottom surface 401 is an obtuse angle.

[0066] In other embodiments, the multiple contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 may all be planar; or at least one of the multiple contact surfaces may be curved; or at least one of the multiple contact surfaces may have an uneven surface structure. Having at least one contact surface that is curved or has an uneven surface structure can further increase the diversity of stimulation direction and / or signal acquisition direction, as well as increase the contact range between the contact surface and the neuron. Furthermore, the curved shape of the contact surface can also make the outer surface of the electrode contact smoother.

[0067] The directional electrodes according to some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to Figures 4a to 4c. It can be understood that the electrode contacts on the directional electrodes of the present disclosure embodiments have multiple contact surfaces facing different directions, thereby forming sheet-like polyhedral electrode contacts, and each contact surface can serve as an independent stimulation contact. Therefore, the directional electrodes of the present disclosure embodiments can form more shapes and wider-ranging field strength forms / electric field line forms, and / or cover more signal acquisition directions and acquisition ranges.

[0068] Based on this, when the directional electrode disclosed herein has a single electrode contact, the output stimulation signal can be achieved by using different contact surfaces of the single electrode contact as positive and negative contacts, or by acquiring physiological electrical signals through the potential difference between multiple contact surfaces of the single electrode contact. This allows the directional electrode to achieve nerve stimulation and / or physiological electrical signal acquisition without being limited by the number of electrode contacts. When the directional electrode includes multiple electrode contacts according to embodiments of this disclosure, a more comprehensive coverage of the stimulation electric field and / or signal acquisition can be achieved.

[0069] Furthermore, compared to electrode forms such as those shown in Figure 1, the directional electrodes of this embodiment can help activate as many neurons in different directions and structures as possible, thereby significantly shortening the time to effective stimulation. This increases the effectiveness of the charge acting on neurons, allowing for the activation of more neurons in a shorter time and improving the timeliness of stimulation. In addition, individual control of each contact surface increases the flexibility in configuring the shape of the stimulation electric field, which is beneficial for improving the precision of target stimulation therapy.

[0070] It is also understandable that, since the electrode contact 400 has different contact surfaces, and different contact surfaces correspond to different directions, when collecting, for example, EEG signals through the electrode contact 400, the EEG signals collected from different signal acquisition directions by different contact surfaces can be comprehensively analyzed, and the brain activity can be more comprehensively analyzed and identified. In turn, the precise location, direction and intensity of the source of neural activity in the brain can be deduced, so as to more accurately identify the neurons that have abnormal signals, thereby facilitating more precise stimulation.

[0071] Furthermore, it is understood that the above description is exemplary and not restrictive. The electrode contact 400 may not be limited to the form shown in Figures 4a-4c, which protrudes from the electrode body. In other embodiments, the electrode contact 400 may be recessed into the surface of the electrode body. An exemplary description will be given below with reference to Figure 4d.

[0072] Figure 4d shows a top view of a directional electrode with electrode contacts recessed in an electrode body according to some embodiments of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 4d, the directional electrode includes an electrode body 501 and electrode contacts recessed in the electrode body 501. The electrode contacts may have multiple contact surfaces, such as a bottom surface 401 and two side surfaces 402 as shown in the figure. All contact surfaces are recessed in the surface of the electrode body 501, wherein the bottom surface 401 faces a first direction F1, and the two side surfaces 402 face a second direction F2 and a third direction F3, respectively. The first direction F1, the second direction F2, and the third direction F3 all face outward from the electrode body 501. In some embodiments, the included angle α between each side surface 402 and the bottom surface 401 may be an obtuse angle.

[0073] Directional electrodes with recessed electrode contacts can be better fixed within tissue and make closer contact with the target tissue. Specifically, taking directional electrode implantation in the brain as an example, the brain is a dynamic environment with cerebrospinal fluid flow and minute displacements of brain tissue. If the electrode contacts protrude from the electrode body, they may shift due to cerebrospinal fluid flow and these minute displacements. In contrast, recessed electrode contacts can form a relatively stable structure with the electrode body deep within the brain, better resisting external interference and maintaining the intended position. This is similar to driving a nail into a board; a slightly recessed nail is less likely to be knocked off course than one protruding from the surface.

[0074] From an electrical perspective, directional electrodes with recessed electrode contacts can optimize the electric field distribution to some extent. During deep brain stimulation, it is necessary to precisely control the range and intensity of the electric field to stimulate specific neural nuclei or pathways. Recessed electrode contacts allow the electric field to be more concentrated on the intended stimulation area, reducing unnecessary stimulation of surrounding non-target areas. This is similar to placing a light source inside a lampshade to focus the light and prevent scattering into areas that do not need illumination, thereby improving the precision and effectiveness of the stimulation.

[0075] The directional electrodes according to embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to Figures 4a-4d. It is understood that the above description is exemplary and not restrictive. For example, the number of contact surfaces of an electrode contact 400 may not be limited to the three shown in the figures, and may be more or fewer as needed. The directional electrode may not be limited to having only one electrode contact, and may have more electrode contacts as needed. Furthermore, the multiple contact surfaces of an electrode contact 400 may not be limited to only two sides, and may include more sides, such as four sides. Further explanation will follow with reference to Figures 5a-5c.

[0076] Figure 5a shows a front view of a directional electrode according to some other embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 5b shows a top view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5a. Compared to the directional electrode shown in Figure 4a, the directional electrode 500 shown in Figure 5a may include an electrode body 501 and a plurality of electrode contacts 400. As can be seen from the enlarged view C of the electrode contacts 400 in Figure 5a, the electrode contacts 400 may include a bottom surface 401 and four side surfaces 402, forming an electrode contact with a polyhedral structure. The bottom surface 401 and the four side surfaces 402 may each face different directions, so that the electrode contact 400 may have five different stimulation directions. In some embodiments, the four side surfaces 402 may each be connected to the four edges of the bottom surface 401. The included angle between each side surface 402 and the bottom surface 401 may be an obtuse angle. With this configuration, the electrode contacts 400 will have no exposed edges after being mounted on the electrode, and the overall surface will be relatively flat and smooth.

[0077] In some embodiments, the directional electrode 500 may include a plurality of electrode contacts 400, which may be uniformly distributed at the stimulation end of the electrode body 501. In other embodiments, the plurality of electrode contacts 400 may be divided into multiple groups, and the electrode contacts 400 in each group may be distributed in a ring around the circumference of the electrode body 501. The plurality of electrode contacts 400 may be spaced apart from each other.

[0078] To facilitate understanding of the beneficial effects of directional electrodes having multiple stimulation directions according to embodiments of this disclosure, the following illustrative description is provided using the directional electrode shown in FIG. 5a as an example, in conjunction with FIG. 5c.

[0079] Figure 5c illustrates some application scenarios of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5a. As shown in Figure 5c, taking a partial side view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5a as an example, the bottom surface 401 of the electrode contact on this directional electrode can have a stimulation direction of the first direction F1, and one of the side surfaces 402 can have a stimulation direction of, for example, the fourth direction F4 shown in the figure. In some scenarios, the axon of the first neuron 10 is parallel to the electric field line direction of the fourth direction F4 (i.e., the direction of charge movement) and is not within the coverage of the first direction F1. Therefore, the stimulation signals emitted by the side surface 402 and the bottom surface 401 will basically not generate action potentials on the first neuron 10. In other scenarios, for example, the second neuron 20 is not within the coverage of the first direction F1, but a portion of the axon of the second neuron 20 is perpendicular to the electric field line direction of the fourth direction F4. Therefore, the stimulation signal emitted by the side surface 402 can generate action potentials on the second neuron 20, while the stimulation signal emitted by the bottom surface 401 will not generate action potentials on the second neuron 20. In some other scenarios, for example, a portion of the axon of the third neuron 30 is parallel to the first direction F1, and another portion is perpendicular to the fourth direction F4, so that the stimulation signal emitted from the side 402 can generate an action potential on the third neuron 30, while the stimulation signal emitted from the bottom 401 will not generate an action potential on the third neuron 30.

[0080] In comparison, directional electrodes, such as those shown in Figure 1, can only emit stimulation signals in the radial direction of the electrode body, that is, they can only form electric field lines in the form of, for example, the first direction F1, and therefore cannot trigger action potentials in, for example, the first neuron 10, the second neuron 20, and the third neuron 30 in Figure 5c. However, the electrode contact 400 of the directional electrode 500 according to the present disclosure embodiment has more stimulation directions, such as the fourth direction F4 shown in Figure 5c, thereby being able to trigger action potentials in, for example, the second neuron 20 and the third neuron 30. Obviously, compared to existing electrodes, the directional electrode of the present disclosure embodiment can trigger neurons with more structures and more directions.

[0081] It can be seen that the electrode contacts of the directional electrode in this embodiment have multiple contact surfaces in multiple directions, which can not only increase the coverage of the stimulation electric field, allowing more neurons to be within the stimulation range of the directional electrode, but also enrich the direction and shape of the stimulation electric field lines, enabling more neurons with different structures and directions to be activated.

[0082] The directional electrode according to the embodiments of the present disclosure has been further described above with reference to Figures 5a to 5c. It should be understood that the above description is exemplary and not limiting. For example, when the directional electrode includes multiple electrode contacts, the multiple electrode contacts are not limited to those protruding from the surface of the electrode body as shown in the figures. In some embodiments, the multiple electrode contacts 400 may be recessed from the surface of the electrode body 501. For example, the multiple electrode contacts 400 of the directional electrode shown in Figure 5d are all recessed from the surface of the electrode body 501. As another example, Figure 5e shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode in some embodiments of the present disclosure where multiple electrode contacts are recessed and protruding respectively. As shown in Figure 5e, a portion of the multiple electrode contacts 400 of the directional electrode are recessed on the electrode body 501, while another portion of the electrode contacts may protrude from the electrode body 501.

[0083] Furthermore, the electrode contacts of the directional electrode according to the embodiments of this disclosure may not be limited to all contact surfaces of an electrode contact being recessed or protruding from the electrode body. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the contact surfaces of a plurality of contact surfaces of an electrode contact may be recessed and / or protruding from the electrode body. Here, "at least a portion of the contact surfaces" may include at least one contact surface. For example, in some embodiments, at least one contact surface of a plurality of contact surfaces of an electrode contact may be recessed or protruding from the electrode body. In other embodiments, a portion of the contact surfaces of a plurality of contact surfaces of an electrode contact are recessed from the electrode body, while another portion of the contact surfaces protrude from the electrode body. In still other embodiments, at least one contact surface of a plurality of contact surfaces of an electrode contact may simultaneously protrude from and be recessed from the electrode body. For ease of understanding, an exemplary description will be provided below in conjunction with Figures 5f and 5g.

[0084] For example, Figure 5f shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode in which some contact surfaces are recessed on an electrode body according to some embodiments of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 5f, by way of example, the electrode contacts on the directional electrode may include a fourth contact surface 406, a fifth contact surface 409, a sixth contact surface 407, and a seventh contact surface 408. The fourth contact surface 406, the fifth contact surface 409, and the sixth contact surface 407 are recessed within the electrode body 501, and the seventh contact surface 408 is attached to the surface of the electrode body 501. The fifth contact surface 409 faces the fifth direction F5, the fourth contact surface 406 faces the sixth direction F6, the sixth contact surface 407 faces the seventh direction F7, and the seventh contact surface 408 faces the eighth direction F8. In some embodiments, the fifth direction F5 and the eighth direction F8 may both be radial directions of the electrode body 501, and the fifth direction F5, the sixth direction F6, and the seventh direction F7 may be different directions. In this embodiment, the fifth contact surface 409 can be the bottom surface, the fourth contact surface 406 and the sixth contact surface 407 can be the side surfaces, and the seventh contact surface 408 can be an extension surface that is connected to the sixth contact surface 407 and extends in a direction away from the fifth contact surface 409, so that the cross-sectional shape of the electrode contact after being cut in a direction perpendicular to the seventh contact surface 408 is a spoon shape.

[0085] It is understood that in some other embodiments, some of the contacts among the multiple contact surfaces may not be limited to being recessed on the electrode body as shown in FIG. 5f, but may also be protruding on the electrode body. For example, the fourth contact surface 406, the fifth contact surface 409 and the sixth contact surface 407 may also be configured to protrude on the electrode body.

[0086] Figure 5g shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode with multiple contact surfaces recessed and protruding on the electrode body according to other embodiments of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 5g, some contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 of the directional electrode are recessed on the electrode body 501, while other contact surfaces protrude on the electrode body 501. In other embodiments, one contact surface of the electrode contact 400 may also be both recessed and protruding on the electrode body 501, such as the eighth contact surface 410 shown in Figure 5g, where a portion of its area is recessed on the electrode body 501, and another portion protrudes on the electrode body 501. That is, the eighth contact surface 410 may penetrate the surface of the electrode body 501. The electrode contact 400 may include two bottom surfaces and at least three side surfaces, one of which (the eighth contact surface 410) connects the two bottom surfaces, and the two bottom surfaces may extend in opposite directions with the one side surface (the eighth contact surface 410) as the interface, such that the cross-section or the entire electrode contact 400 may be S-shaped.

[0087] The above descriptions are exemplary and not limiting. For example, the electrode contacts may not be limited to the trapezoidal structure formed by the bottom and side surfaces shown in Figures 5a-5e, but may be other shapes or structures. Further descriptions will follow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0088] Figure 6a shows a schematic diagram of an electrode contact with multiple contact surfaces arranged in a honeycomb pattern according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 6b shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode mounted with the electrode contacts shown in Figure 6a. As shown in Figure 6a, the multiple contact surfaces 403 of the electrode contact 400 can be arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Each contact surface 403 can be, for example, a pentagon as shown in the figure, or a hexagon, etc. The edges of the multiple contact surfaces 403 can be connected or not connected. The included angle between any two adjacent contact surfaces in the honeycomb-patterned multiple contact surfaces 403 can be an obtuse angle. As shown in Figure 6b, the directional electrode 500 can include an electrode body 501 and one or more electrode contacts 400 mounted on the electrode body 501, wherein the multiple contact surfaces of each electrode contact 400 are arranged in a honeycomb pattern. According to this arrangement, the stimulation direction of each electrode contact 400 is further increased, thereby further expanding the stimulation coverage of the directional electrode.

[0089] Figure 7a shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode including multiple contact surfaces arranged in a ring according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 7b shows a top cross-sectional view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 7a. Referring to Figures 7a and 7b, the directional electrode 500 may include one or more electrode contacts 400. The multiple contact surfaces 403 of the electrode contacts 400 may be arranged in a ring, forming an electrode contact 400 with a ring-shaped polyhedral structure, so that the back faces 404 of the multiple contact surfaces 403 enclose a hollow structure, facilitating the mounting of the electrode body 501 therein. Here, the multiple contact surfaces 403 arranged in a ring can refer to a back-to-back ring arrangement. The back face of the contact surface can also be called the back side of the contact surface, that is, the side facing the electrode body 501 when the electrode contact is mounted on the electrode body. The back faces 404 of the multiple contact surfaces 403 may enclose a circular ring shape as shown in Figure 7b, or they may enclose a ring shape with a polygonal cross-section. The back surfaces 404 of multiple contact surfaces 403 surround each other to form a ring shape as shown in Figure 7b, which can be manufactured by a one-piece molding process.

[0090] In contrast, for example, the annular electrode shown in Figure 1(a) has a continuous sheet-like structure at its annular electrode contacts. Therefore, the radial direction of the annular electrode contacts can only emit stimulation signals simultaneously, thus forming electric field lines of a fixed shape and a field strength of a fixed intensity. In the embodiments disclosed herein, for example, the directional electrode shown in Figure 7a, each contact surface can be used as an individual stimulation source. Therefore, stimulation parameters such as whether stimulation signals are emitted in different radial directions of the directional electrode and the intensity of the emitted stimulation signals can be controlled, thereby providing more forms of electric field lines and field strength distributions.

[0091] The above description, in conjunction with Figures 7a and 7b, provides an exemplary account of a directional electrode including electrode contacts with a ring-shaped three-dimensional structure. It is understood that the above description is exemplary and not limiting. For example, the number of electrode contacts on the directional electrode may not be limited to the three shown in the figures, and may be more or less as needed. The number of contact surfaces of the electrode contacts may not be limited to the six shown in the figures, and may also be more or less as needed. Furthermore, the electrode contacts may not be limited to only contact surfaces, but may also include, for example, chamfered surfaces. Further explanation follows.

[0092] Figure 8a shows a schematic diagram of an electrode contact including a chamfered surface according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 8b shows a schematic diagram of a directional electrode mounted with the electrode contact shown in Figure 8a. Figure 8c shows a top cross-sectional view of the directional electrode shown in Figure 8b. Referring to Figures 8a-8c, the electrode contact 400 may include a plurality of contact surfaces 403, which may or may not be connected. At least two of the plurality of contact surfaces 403 may be made of metal. The electrode contact 400 may also include a chamfered surface 405, which may be disposed at the exposed edge 802 of one or more contact surfaces 403. The exposed edge 802 may be an exposed edge of the contact surface 403, such as an edge of the contact surface 403 that is not connected to or adjacent to other contact surfaces.

[0093] The chamfered surface 405 can be a plane or a curved surface, etc. The number of chamfered surfaces 405 can be one or more. For example, in the figure, each contact surface 403 has two exposed edges, so each contact surface 403 is connected to two chamfered surfaces 405. In some other embodiments, a chamfered surface 405 can be provided only at the exposed edge 802 of one contact surface 403 as needed. In still other embodiments, a chamfered surface 405 can be provided only at one side of the exposed edge 802 of one contact surface 403 as needed.

[0094] In some other embodiments, the chamfered surface 405 may also be provided at the connection points 801 of the plurality of contact surfaces 403 (i.e., at the connection points 801 of every two adjacent contact surfaces 403), so that the connection points 801 of the plurality of contact surfaces 403 can transition smoothly. The chamfered surface 405 may be provided at each connection point 801, or it may be provided at only one or more connection points 801 as needed.

[0095] By setting chamfered surfaces, the connection points 801 and / or exposed edges 802 of multiple contact surfaces 403 can be smoothly transitioned, making the entire structure of the directional electrode smoother and flatter. When the directional electrode is implanted into the tissue, it is less likely to damage the tissue. At the same time, it also avoids uneven charge accumulation at the corners of the contact surfaces 403, which helps to ensure the effective output of the stimulation signal.

[0096] It is understood that the above description is exemplary and not limiting. For example, the chamfered surface 405 is not limited to being provided only on electrode contacts with annular three-dimensional structures, but also applies to electrode contacts shown in Figures 4a to 6b, for example. Further details will not be provided here. Furthermore, the multiple contact surfaces 403 are not limited to being in close contact or connected as shown in the figures, but can also be spaced apart. An exemplary description will be given below with reference to Figure 9.

[0097] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of an electrode contact according to another embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 9, the electrode contact 400 may include a plurality of contact surfaces 403 and a plurality of chamfered surfaces 405. The electrode contact 400 may be a ring-shaped three-dimensional structure or a non-ring-shaped polyhedral structure. In some embodiments, a gap may exist between adjacent edges of at least two adjacent contact surfaces 403, and / or an insulating isolation layer 901 may be provided. In some embodiments, the insulating isolation layer 901 may be disposed within the gap. In other embodiments, both the insulating isolation layer 901 and a gap may be provided between adjacent edges of at least two adjacent contact surfaces 403. The insulating isolation layer 901 may be formed by filling the gap with insulating material, or it may be manufactured and molded independently and then installed between the plurality of contact surfaces.

[0098] At least two adjacent contact surfaces in the plurality of contact surfaces 403 can be only two adjacent contact surfaces in the plurality of contact surfaces, or they can be more than two adjacent contact surfaces in the plurality of contact surfaces. For example, there can be a gap and / or an insulating isolation layer 901 between the adjacent edges of every two adjacent contact surfaces in the plurality of contact surfaces. Adjacent edges can refer to the two edges that are closest to each other from two adjacent contact surfaces. In some embodiments, the material of the plurality of contact surfaces 403 can all be metal.

[0099] At least two adjacent contact surfaces are separated by a gap and / or an insulating layer 901. Since charge movement occurs when a stimulation signal is emitted from the contact surface, separating adjacent contact surfaces effectively prevents them from interfering with each other when emitting stimulation signals.

[0100] Furthermore, in some embodiments, gaps and / or insulating layers may exist between adjacent edges of at least two adjacent chamfered surfaces 405. This arrangement facilitates the manufacturing of the electrode contacts 400; for example, the insulating layer 901 between adjacent contact surfaces and adjacent chamfered surfaces can be formed in one piece using an integral molding process, simplifying the manufacturing process and resulting in a smooth and flat overall structure for the electrode contacts.

[0101] It is understood that the electrode contacts shown in the figures are exemplary and not limiting. For example, gaps and / or insulating layers may not be limited to adjacent contact surfaces in electrode contacts including chamfered surfaces; gaps and / or insulating layers may also exist between adjacent contact surfaces in any of the electrode contacts described in Figures 4a to 7b. Further details are omitted here.

[0102] In another aspect, this disclosure also provides a neurostimulation system that may include directional electrodes with electrode contacts as described above in conjunction with any of Figures 4a to 9. In some embodiments, the neurostimulation system may further include a stimulator, and each contact surface of the electrode contacts in the directional electrodes may be independently connected to the stimulator. Further description will follow with reference to Figure 10a.

[0103] Figure 10a shows a schematic block diagram of a neurostimulation system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10a, the neurostimulation system 1000 may include a stimulator 1001 and a directional electrode 500, wherein the stimulator 1001 may include a pulse generator, etc., and the directional electrode 500 may include an electrode body 501 and one or more electrode contacts 400 mounted on the electrode body 501. The electrode contact 400 may include a plurality of contact surfaces, and the plurality of contact surfaces face different directions, and each contact surface may be independently connected to the stimulator 1001 by being individually connected to a wire.

[0104] By independently connecting each contact surface to the stimulator 1001, the stimulation parameters of each contact surface can be independently controlled, allowing different contact surfaces of the same electrode contact 400 to emit the same or different stimulation signals, and vice versa. For example, in some scenarios, different contact surfaces of the same electrode contact 400 can be controlled to act as positive and negative contacts respectively to output stimulation current. In other scenarios, one or more contact surfaces of one electrode contact 400 can be controlled as positive contacts, and one or more contact surfaces of another electrode contact 400 can be controlled as negative contacts, and so on. In still other scenarios, different contact surfaces of the same electrode contact 400 can be controlled to output stimulation electric fields of the same or different intensities, or contact surfaces of different electrode contacts 400 can be controlled to output stimulation electric fields of different intensities.

[0105] This setup increases the diversity and flexibility in configuring the shape and field strength distribution of the stimulation electric field lines, thereby providing a more comprehensive and three-dimensional field strength and / or electric field line generation pattern within a certain space. This is beneficial for accelerating the depolarization process of neurons and improving the precision of target stimulation therapy.

[0106] The above description is exemplary and not restrictive. For example, the neurostimulation system according to the embodiments of this disclosure may not be limited to directional electrodes and stimulators, but may also include other units / devices, etc. An exemplary description will be given below with reference to FIG10b.

[0107] Figure 10b shows a schematic block diagram of a neurostimulation system according to other embodiments of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 10b, the neurostimulation system 1000 may include a stimulator 1001, a directional electrode 500, and a control unit 1002, wherein the control unit 1002 can control the stimulator 1001 and / or the directional electrode 500 to control one or more contact surfaces of one or more electrode contacts 400 of the directional electrode 500 to output stimulation signals. The control unit 1002 may be implemented in software and / or hardware. In some embodiments, the control unit 1002 may be integrated into a programmable controller.

[0108] In other embodiments, the control unit 1002 may be configured to selectively activate one or more contact surfaces of at least one electrode contact 400 of the directional electrode 500 based on the relative position of the directional electrode 500 to the target stimulation region. In some embodiments, the relative position of the directional electrode 500 to the target stimulation region may be determined by imaging images (e.g., MRI images, CT images, etc.). The relative position of the directional electrode 500 to the target stimulation region may include, for example, the distance between the implanted directional electrode 500 and the target stimulation region, the position of the directional electrode 500 within the target stimulation region, the distance between the electrode contacts on the directional electrode 500 and the target stimulation region, and the position of the electrode contacts on the directional electrode 500 within the target stimulation region.

[0109] Based on the relative position of the directional electrode 500 and the target stimulation area, the electrode contacts 400 that can be covered by the target stimulation area can be selected for configuration. One or more contact surfaces of one electrode contact 400 of the directional electrode 500 can be activated, or multiple electrode contacts 400 of the directional electrode 500 can be activated, wherein one or more contact surfaces of each electrode contact 400 can also be selectively activated individually. Here, activation means controlling the contact surface to output a stimulation signal; inactive contact surfaces do not output a stimulation signal.

[0110] In some other embodiments, the control unit 1002 may also be used to: measure the action potential induced by the stimulation generated by each contact surface or combination of contact surfaces; determine the effective contact surface for stimulation based on the measured action potential; and select the determined effective contact surface for subsequent stimulation. This operation can be performed during the patient programming phase to determine the stimulation protocol.

[0111] Specifically, since each contact surface of the electrode contact in this disclosed embodiment can independently serve as a stimulation source, measurements can be performed on a per-contact-surface basis. The contact surface combination can include different contact surfaces from the same electrode contact, or contact surfaces from different electrode contacts. By using different contact surface combinations to generate stimulation output, action potentials under corresponding stimulation are obtained. These action potentials can be obtained by measuring electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, field potentials, impedance, etc. Then, based on the measured effective or abnormal action potentials, the contact surfaces capable of generating effective stimulation are determined. Based on this, subsequent stimulation and treatment can be performed.

[0112] In some scenarios, such as during the programming phase, by using stimulation signals generated through different combinations of contact surfaces, it's possible to determine whether effective or abnormal action potentials are produced based on the patient's behavior, thus determining the optimal configuration of the contact surfaces. For example, if the patient's behavior improves, it indicates that the current contact surface combination is generating effective action potentials, thus confirming it as an effective combination. Conversely, if the patient's behavior becomes abnormal, it indicates that the current contact surface combination is generating abnormal action potentials, causing side effects. Therefore, it can be determined that the current contact surface combination is not effective and should not be used in subsequent stimulation and treatment.

[0113] In some embodiments, the control unit 1002 is further configured to: weight the stimulation intensity of different contact surfaces of the electrode contact 400 to reduce stimulation of non-target areas. For ease of understanding, further explanation will follow with reference to FIG11.

[0114] Figure 11 shows a partial schematic diagram of a directional electrode according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 11, a first contact surface 1101 of one stimulation contact can be configured with 50% stimulation intensity, a second contact surface 1102 of another stimulation contact can be configured with 20% stimulation intensity, and a third contact surface 1103 of that other stimulation contact can be configured with 30% stimulation intensity.

[0115] It is understood that the weighting of stimulus intensity shown in Figure 11 is exemplary and not restrictive. For example, it is not limited to weighting at 50%, 20%, and 30%, but can be assigned according to other weight values ​​as needed. The number of contact surfaces used for weighting is not limited to the three shown in the figure, and more or fewer contact surfaces can be used to weight stimulus intensity as needed. Furthermore, for example, it is not limited to weighting different contact surfaces of two different stimulus contacts as shown in the figure, but can also be done on different contact surfaces of only one stimulus contact.

[0116] Weighting the stimulation intensity of different contact surfaces of electrode contact 400 can further increase the shape variation and distribution range of the stimulation electric field strength / field lines, thereby facilitating the activation of neurons with more structures and orientations. Weighting the stimulation intensity of different contact surfaces can also achieve the goal of avoiding nuclei or reducing stimulation of nuclei that need to be avoided (i.e., reducing stimulation of non-target areas), thus effectively reducing the risk of side effects induced by stimulating nuclei that need to be avoided. For example, for nuclei in non-target areas near the directional electrode implantation site, or when the actual implantation site of the directional electrode deviates significantly from the intended implantation site, resulting in a close distance between the actual implantation site and the nuclei that need to be avoided, a lower weighted stimulation intensity can be assigned to the contact surfaces near non-target areas to reduce stimulation. With this setting, the therapeutic effect of stimulation can be maximized while the side effects are minimized.

[0117] In summary, this disclosed embodiment provides a directional electrode with electrode contacts having a multi-faceted three-dimensional structure. Since the electrode contacts have multiple contact surfaces that can independently control stimulation parameters, and these multiple contact surfaces face different directions, by selecting different contacts and / or different combinations of contact surfaces on the directional electrode, more field strength shapes and electric field line directions can be formed, as well as more signal acquisition directions and ranges. This increases the contact range between the directional electrode and neurons with different structures and directions, so as to act on more neurons over a wider area, improve charge utilization, and enhance the timeliness and effectiveness of stimulation. Consequently, it can activate more neurons in a short time and / or acquire physiological electrical signals from more directions, and achieve accurate localization of neurons that generate physiological electrical signals.

[0118] While numerous embodiments of this disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Many modifications, alterations, and alternatives will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of this disclosure. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of this disclosure described herein may be employed in the practice of this disclosure. The appended claims are intended to define the scope of this disclosure and therefore cover equivalents or alternatives within the scope of these claims.

Claims

1. A directional electrode, characterized in that, include: Electrode body; as well as Electrode contacts mounted on the electrode body, wherein each electrode contact has multiple contact surfaces, each contact surface can independently serve as a stimulation source and / or a signal acquisition point, and at least two of the multiple contact surfaces face different directions, such that the electrode contact has multiple stimulation directions and / or multiple signal acquisition directions.

2. The directional electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the contact surfaces of the electrode contacts are protruding and / or recessed on the electrode body.

3. The directional electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that, The directional electrode includes multiple electrode contacts, which are protruding and / or recessed on the electrode body.

4. The directional electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of contact surfaces include a bottom surface and at least two side surfaces, wherein the angle between each side surface and the bottom surface is an obtuse angle.

5. The directional electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple contact surfaces are distributed in a honeycomb pattern.

6. The directional electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple contact surfaces are arranged in a ring shape so that the back surfaces of the multiple contact surfaces are enclosed to form a hollow structure, which facilitates the installation of the electrode body within it.

7. The directional electrode according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The electrode contacts also include: A chamfered surface is provided at the junction of the plurality of contact surfaces and / or at the exposed edge of one or more contact surfaces.

8. The directional electrode according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, At least two adjacent contact surfaces of the plurality of contact surfaces have gaps between their adjacent edges, and / or an insulating isolation layer is provided.

9. The electrode contact according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, All of the multiple contact points are planar surfaces; or At least one of the plurality of contact surfaces is a curved surface; or At least one of the multiple contact surfaces has an uneven surface structure.

10. A neural stimulation system, characterized in that, Includes the directional electrode as described in any one of claims 1-9.

11. The neural stimulation system according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes a stimulator, and each contact surface of the electrode contacts in the directional electrodes is independently connected to the stimulator.

12. The neural stimulation system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, Also includes: A control unit is configured to selectively activate one or more contact surfaces of at least one electrode contact of the directional electrode according to the relative position of the directional electrode to the target stimulation region.

13. The neural stimulation system according to claim 12, characterized in that, The control unit is also used for: Measure the action potential induced by the stimulus generated by each contact surface or combination of contact surfaces; Based on the measured action potential, the contact surface of the effective stimulus is determined; Select the contact surface of the determined effective stimulus for subsequent stimulation.

14. The neural stimulation system according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The control unit is also used for: The stimulation intensity is weighted and allocated to different contact surfaces of the electrode contacts to reduce stimulation of non-target areas.

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