Layered Neural Depth Probes for Minimally Invasive Brain Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neural depth probes are too thick, inflexible, and often too large for minimally invasive procedures, causing tissue damage and limiting their efficiency in detecting and stimulating brain activity.
Innovation Solution
The development of intracranial electrodes with a stacked or layered body structure incorporating thin-film conductive connectors and contacts, allowing for high-density conductors and reduced tissue trauma by triangulating brain activity with fewer electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional neural depth probes are used, then they can perform neural detection and stimulation, but they cause tissue damage due to their thick profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into multiple functional layers (conductive layer, insulating layer, additional conductive layers) stacked together. Each layer performs a specific function, allowing the overall probe to achieve the required functionality while maintaining a thin profile that minimizes tissue damage during insertion and use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional single-layer or bulk probe designs to a multi-layer stacked configuration. By organizing conductive and insulating materials in multiple thin layers along the longitudinal axis, the probe achieves high functional density while reducing the radial thickness that causes tissue damage.
2Productivity
If traditional neural depth probes are used, then they can detect brain activity, but they require a large number of electrodes reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conductive elements are merged into a single integrated probe structure through the stacked layer configuration. The conductive layers contain multiple traces or contacts that can function as multiple electrodes, allowing the probe to detect brain activity at multiple locations simultaneously while being inserted as a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked layer structure provides multi-functionality by incorporating both detection capabilities (through conductive traces for recording neural signals) and stimulation capabilities (through the same or separate conductive elements) within a single probe design. This universal approach increases detection efficiency without requiring separate devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional neural depth probes are used, then they can be constructed with standard materials, but they are inflexible and cannot be used in minimally invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film materials for the conductive and insulating layers, which inherently provide flexibility. These thin films can be bent and deformed to navigate through small openings and delicate brain tissue during minimally invasive procedures, while still maintaining their structural integrity and electrical functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe uses composite construction combining different materials with complementary properties: conductive materials (such as metal traces or conductive polymers) for electrical functionality, insulating materials (such as Parylene or other biocompatible polymers) for electrical isolation and mechanical flexibility. This composite approach enables both flexibility for minimally invasive insertion and stability for reliable neural interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are improved neural depth probes for detection and stimulation, along with various related improved components, devices, methods, and technologies. More specifically, the devices are layered depth electrodes with at least two layers, with each of the layers containing at least one thin-film trace disposed thereon. Each of the devices can also have a plurality of layers with at least two traces on each layer and contacts coupled to each trace.