CSF Catheter With Integrated Electrodes for Direct Brain Signal Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters and devices for delivering therapeutic agents to the brain or withdrawing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do not allow for continuous, high-quality monitoring of electrical brain signals, which is crucial for understanding brain states and adjusting therapy, as they require separate implantation procedures and suffer from noisy signal quality due to scalp-based EEG recordings.
Innovation Solution
A combined catheter and electrode system is implanted to directly record electrical signals from white or grey matter, allowing for a single procedure and improved signal quality, with separate lumens for fluid delivery and withdrawal, and integrated signal processing for real-time therapy adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate catheter and EEG systems are used, then fluid management function is provided, but signal quality is poor and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the catheter and EEG electrode into a single integrated device. The electrode is positioned on the catheter at a specific distance from the distal end, allowing both fluid management and high-quality brain signal recording functions to be provided by one device rather than separate systems, thereby improving signal quality while maintaining manageable complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate implantation procedures are used, then specialized function is provided, but surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated catheter-electrode device allows both the catheter and electrode to be implanted through a single surgical procedure rather than requiring separate implantation procedures. The device maintains specialized functions for both fluid management and brain signal recording while reducing surgical complexity through unified implantation
3Measurement precision
If scalp-based EEG recordings are used, then non-invasive monitoring is provided, but signal attenuation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter serves as an intermediary medium that delivers the electrode directly to the brain tissue interface. Instead of recording from the scalp surface, the electrode positioned on the catheter makes direct contact with or comes extremely close to the brain tissue, eliminating the signal attenuation that occurs through skull and scalp in traditional EEG
4Ease of operation
If integrated catheter-electrode device is used, then single procedure implantation is achieved, but positioning precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is pre-positioned on the catheter at a specific distance from the distal end during manufacturing. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the catheter is implanted to its intended depth and position, the electrode will be at the correct location relative to the brain tissue, simplifying the implantation procedure while maintaining positioning precision
Data Source
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AI summary
A device or system for delivering fluid to or removing fluid from a CSF-containing space of a brain and for recording electrical activity from white or grey matter in the brain includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end portion, a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end portion, and one or more electrodes positioned relative to the catheter a distance from a distal end of the catheter, such that the one or more electrodes would be placed in contact with white or grey matter of the brain if the distal end of the catheter were positioned in the CSF-containing space. The catheter may include the electrodes or a lead adjacent the catheter may include the electrodes.