Tubular Electrode Array for Cerebral Vessel Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current brain-computer interface (BCI) systems face challenges in navigating and deploying implantable devices in smaller cerebral vessels due to their size, delicacy, and tortuous anatomy, which limits their ability to record neural activity and stimulate neural tissue effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system comprising a microwire and a tubular member with a central lumen and peripheral lumens, where electrodes are coupled to the tubular body, allowing for navigation through tortuous vessels, secure deployment, and effective recording/stimulation of neural tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current BCI implantable devices are used, then neural activity recording and stimulation can be achieved, but the devices cannot be appropriately implanted in smaller cerebral vessels due to size and delicacy constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device is divided into multiple components: a delivery catheter, a microwire, and a tubular member with electrodes. This segmentation allows the device to be delivered through larger vessels and then deployed within smaller cerebral vessels, overcoming the size constraint while maintaining recording and stimulation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular member with electrodes is nested within the delivery catheter and microwire assembly. The tubular member can be advanced through the microwire and delivered to the target location in smaller cerebral vessels, enabling the device to access vessels smaller than the overall assembly size would suggest.
2Adaptability or versatility
If implantable devices are deployed in smaller cerebral vessels, then access to motor homunculus and somatosensory regions is improved, but the vessels are more tortuous and delicate making deployment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The microwire and tubular member are designed with flexible, dynamic characteristics that allow them to navigate tortuous vessel paths. The microwire can be advanced through curved and twisted smaller cerebral vessels, and the tubular member can conform to the vessel geometry while maintaining electrode contact with neural tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The micrawire serves as an intermediary element that facilitates the delivery of the tubular member to the target location in tortuous vessels. The microwire acts as a guide and support structure during delivery, enabling access to difficult-to-reach regions while the tubular member is deployed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices are made smaller to fit within cerebral vessels, then they can be implanted in smaller vessels, but the ability to provide proper recording and stimulation via electrical contacts is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are arranged in a circular pattern around the tubular member, utilizing the circumferential dimension to provide multiple electrical contacts. This circular electrode arrangement allows the device to maintain adequate electrode surface area and electrical contact quality even when constrained within smaller cerebral vessels, as the electrodes can be distributed around the circumference rather than requiring linear extension.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for implanting electrodes within a cerebral vessel of a subject. For example, disclosed are various types of implantable electrode arrays, stents carrying electrode arrays, delivery devices for implantable electrode arrays, electrical interfaces for an implantable electrode array, connector lead cable assemblies for an implantable electrode array, and methods of delivering and deploying implantable electrode arrays.