Implantable lead with adjustable electrode position and control system thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12233257-B2
Application number	US-202117279770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2021
Priority date	Feb 6, 2020
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

An implantable lead having adjustable electrode locations and a system for controlling the same. The implantable lead may include a plurality of first electrodes exposed and formed at an upper part of a main body at given intervals, a plurality of second electrodes coupled to a stepped lower part of the main body and configured to deliver a stimulus signal to a core area into which the lead is inserted, and a plurality of signal lines embedded in the main body and configured to connect the first electrodes and the second electrodes in a one-to-one manner. In this case, a slot for coupling and up and down movement of the second electrodes may be formed in the lower part. As the second electrodes are individually moved along the slot by an external force acting on the signal lines, locations of the second electrodes in the lower part may be adjusted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An implantable lead having adjustable electrode locations, comprising:
a main body having an upper part and a stepped lower part, the lower part having a narrower diameter than the upper part;
a plurality of first electrodes exposed and formed in the upper part of the main body at given intervals;
a plurality of second electrodes coupled to, and configured to move up and down with respect to, the stepped lower part of the main body and configured to deliver a stimulus signal to a core area into which the lead is inserted; and
a plurality of signal lines embedded in the main body and configured to connect the first electrodes and the second electrodes in a one-to-one manner,
wherein the lower part includes a slot for coupling with the second electrodes and enabling the second electrodes to move up and down, and
wherein the plurality of second electrodes are individually movable along the slot by an external force acting on the signal lines, thereby adjusting the locations of the second electrodes in the lower part.

2. The implantable lead of claim 1 , wherein each of the second electrodes comprises:
an exposed part configured to surround an outside of the lower part and having a ring shape, and
a connection part elongated inward from the exposed part toward a center of the exposed part, extending in the slot, and connected to a respective one of the signal lines in the main body.

3. The implantable lead of claim 2 , wherein the connection parts of each of the second electrodes have different lengths in order to prevent a collision between the signal lines.

4. The implantable lead of claim 2 , wherein each of the second electrodes further comprises insulating members provided at top and bottom surfaces of the exposed part in order to prevent occurrence of a short circuit attributable to a contact between the second electrodes.

5. The implantable lead of claim 2 , wherein the exposed part has a same diameter as the upper part of the main body.

6. The implantable lead of claim 1 , further comprising a fastening member coupled to the upper part of the main body and configured to fix movements of the signal lines.

7. A system for controlling an implantable lead having adjustable electrode locations, comprising:
the implantable lead according to claim 1 ;
a forceps electrically connected to the first electrodes;
a signal line driving module including a motor and a grabber to individually control movements of the signal lines; and
a processor configured to receive a nerve signal from the lead, digitize the nerve signal, and control an operation of the signal line driving module.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the forceps comprises:
a handle in which a wire for delivering the stimulus signal to the lead is led and disposed, and
a fixing part coupled to the upper part of the main body and configured to connect the lead and the forceps.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fixing part comprises:
the wire extended from the handle, and
a plurality of electrode contacts connected to the wire.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the forceps further comprises a guider provided at a top of the fixing part on one side thereof and configured to seat the lead at a home position of the fixing part so that the first electrodes and the electrode contacts are brought into contact with each other.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the signal line driving module further comprises a grabber connected to the signal lines, wherein the motor configured to provide a driving force for adjusting movements of the signal lines in response to a control signal from the processor.

Assignees

• Samsung Life Public Welfare Foundation

Inventors

• Park Eun Kyoung
• Kim Tae Kyung
• Kim Tae Woo
• Kang Min Hee
• Choi Dong Il
• Lee Kyu Sung

Classifications

• A61N1/36135

  using physiological parameters · CPC title

• A61N1/3752

  Details of casing-lead connections · CPC title

• A61N1/37514

  Brain implants · CPC title

• A61N1/37518

  Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation · CPC title

• A61N1/3605

  Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system · CPC title