WO2012086876A1

WO2012086876A1 - Electrode system for stimulating cranial nerve

Info

Publication number: WO2012086876A1
Application number: PCT/KR2011/001713
Authority: WO
Inventors: 황용섭; 윤호; 박세익
Original assignee: 주식회사 엠아이텍
Priority date: 2010-12-23
Filing date: 2011-03-11
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: KR101183558B1; KR20120071904A

Abstract

An electrode system for stimulating a cranial nerve comprises a stimulating electrode for electrically stimulating a specific area inside the skull of a subject, and an anchor which is fixed to the surface of the skull of the subject. The anchor comprises a flange portion, the bottom surface of which is fixed to the skull of the subject, which is provided with a through-groove into which the stimulating electrode is inserted, and an electrode holder, which is integrally formed with the flange portion at the upper portion of the flange portion, which is provided with an insertion groove that perpendicularly communicates with the through-groove of the flange portion. The stimulating electrode is inserted via the insertion groove on the electrode holder and the through-groove on the flange portion so as to reach the specific area. Also, the electrode system for stimulating a cranial nerve further comprises electrode support members, which are coupled to both sides of the electrode holder, for supporting from both sides the stimulating electrode that is inserted into the insertion groove on the electrode holder, and a connector, which is coupled to one side of the electrode holder by means of the electrode support member, for conveying current to the stimulating electrode.

Description

Electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation

The present invention relates to a small electrode nerve stimulation electrode system, and more particularly to implant a stimulus electrode (stimulus electrode) used to stimulate a specific part of the brain implanted in the lumen of the test object stably and easily The present invention relates to an electrode system for minimizing cranial nerve stimulation that enables the conduct of reliable experiments.

As is well known, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure has been proposed to develop a therapeutic agent for treating pain and movement disorders caused by lesions such as Parkinson's disease, pain, and epilepsy. Deep brain stimulation has the therapeutic effect of improving the condition through stimulation of specific brain nerves. The advantages of the deep brain stimulation procedure is that the therapeutic effect is greater than the drug treatment or surgery, the risk of brain damage, and does not remove the brain tissue has the advantage of easy application of the new treatment. However, the electrode system for brain stimulation, which is being used in the deep brain stimulation procedure, has disadvantages such as frequent replacement of the deep brain stimulator due to limited battery life and complexity of surgery due to large size.

The next generation of cranial nerve stimulation electrode system is actively developed to solve these shortcomings, and the experimental rats (Sprague-) are used to verify the effectiveness of the currently developed cranial nerve stimulation electrode system and to expand the scope of application (pain, epilepsy, etc.). Dawley rat) is used as the test subject. For example, the apparatus disclosed in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-319316 can be mentioned.

In conducting the deep brain stimulation using the test object, it should not affect the living body of the test object by the stimulation electrode and the electrical stimulation, there should be no destruction of the brain cells, and the electrode material and the related device used for the stimulation electrode Should be safe for application to the living body. To this end, it is necessary to set the exact position of the target region in the deep structure such as the brain, and by using the image using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the fine electrode can be significantly improved the accuracy of the positioning and surgery.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the anchor used in the conventional electrode for nerve stimulation electrode system used to stimulate the cranial nerve of the test subject while meeting the above safety standards. A deep brain stimulation procedure using the conventional electrode system for stimulating the brain as shown in Figure 1 is as follows. First, the rat skull (1) of the test subject was punctured, and a 5 μm parylene-coated tungsten stimulation electrode (6) was applied to the brain using a stainless steel anchor (2) suitable for living body. Inserted into the target site (3), embedded with a small amount of dental cement (4), and stably fixed. Subsequently, the anchor 2 into which the stimulation electrode 6 is inserted is wrapped in the fixing device 10 as shown in FIG. 2 and mounted on the test object. The fixing device 10 is a tether band 14 made of a soft elastic material such that the test object does not feel pressure, and an upper part thereof is cut in order to prevent abnormal high heat from occurring at the cutting part of the test object. The saddle 12 is provided with a brain stimulator (not shown) located at the top of the site, which serves to stably stabilize the brain stimulator when conducting a behavioral test on the subject.

By the way, the conventional electrode for nerve stimulation electrode system is subject to the test subject rats are broken while moving from place to place within the breeding ground during the experiment. In this case, it becomes impossible to deliver the desired stimulus signal to the test object, which leads to a problem in deriving the test result.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized cranial nerve stimulation electrode system capable of performing a reliable experiment by more stably fixing the stimulation electrode in a relatively simple configuration.

The cranial nerve stimulation electrode system of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a stimulation electrode for electrically stimulating a specific portion in the skull of the test object, and an anchor fixed to the surface of the skull of the test object.

The anchor has a bottom portion of which is fixed to the skull of the test object, a flange portion having a through groove into which the magnetic pole electrode is inserted, and formed integrally with the flange portion on an upper portion of the flange portion, and through the flange portion. An electrode holder having an insertion groove communicating vertically with the groove, wherein the magnetic pole electrode is inserted to reach the specific portion through the insertion groove of the electrode holder and the through groove of the flange.

The cranial nerve stimulation electrode system is coupled to both sides of the electrode holder and the electrode support member for supporting the stimulation electrode inserted into the insertion groove of the electrode holder from both sides, coupled to one side of the electrode holder by the electrode support member. And a connector for transferring a current to the stimulation electrode through the electrode support member.

Each of the electrode supporting members is a conductor, and the connector is coupled to one side of the electrode holder by any one of the electrode supporting members, and the other electrode supporting member is connected to the other side of the electrode holder. The washers are coupled to each other so that they can be located at the exact center.

The connector includes a coupling part having a coupling groove coupled to the head of the electrode support member and an extension part bent and extended from the coupling part.

The electrode holder further includes a fastening groove formed on both sides of the electrode holder penetrated in a direction perpendicular to the insertion groove,

The electrode support member is screwed through the fastening groove so as to contact the magnetic pole electrode inserted into the insertion groove to support the magnetic pole electrode at both sides.

The electrode system further includes a pair of metal plates inserted into the insertion groove of the electrode holder with the pole electrode interposed therebetween to prevent deformation of the pole electrode by the electrode support member fastened to the fastening groove.

The flange portion has an inclined end portion at both sides thereof, the inclined end portion is formed with a screw groove for fastening the anchor to the surface of the skull of the test object, the screw groove is perpendicular to the surface of the inclined end portion It is formed to be inclined in the direction.

The electrode system further includes a cover covering the electrode holder of the anchor for insulation of the current.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an anchor used in a conventional electrode system for nerve stimulation,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing mechanism used in the electrode system for nerve stimulation of the prior art,

3 is an exploded perspective view of an electrode system for brain stimulation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in the state in which the electrode system for stimulating the nerve of FIG. 3 is coupled,

5 is a plan view of the electrode system for brain nerve stimulation of FIG.

6 is a perspective view of an electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation according to an embodiment of the present invention with the cover coupled.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the operation of the embodiment according to the present invention. In the following description of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may be changed according to intentions or customs of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electrode system for stimulating the nerve stimulation according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV line in the state of the brain stimulation electrode system of Figure 3, Figure 5 4 is a plan view of the electrode system for brain stimulation of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the electrode system 100 for cranial nerve stimulation according to an embodiment of the present invention penetrates the anchor 20 and the anchor 20 whose bottom surface is fixed to the scalp of the test subject. It reaches a target site of the brain of the test object, and comprises a stimulation electrode 50 for applying an electrical stimulation to the target site. The anchor 20 is composed of an electrode holder 40 of a hexahedron or cube body to which the pole electrode 50 is inserted and supported, and a flange portion 30 formed integrally with the lower portion of the electrode holder 40.

The flange portion 30 is made of a non-conductor such as Teflon, the bottom surface is configured to be fixed to the skull of the test object, and includes a through groove 36 through which the stimulation electrode 50 is inserted. In addition, the flange portion 30 is provided with inclined ends formed with thread grooves 32 on both front and rear sides thereof, and the screw 34 is screwed through the screw grooves 32 to fix the anchor 20 to the specimen. Secure to the skull. At this time, the screw groove 32 is preferably formed to be inclined toward the electrode holder 40 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the inclined end to securely anchor the anchor 20 to the skull of the test object. Like the flange portion 30, the electrode holder 40 is made of a non-conductor such as Teflon, and the insertion groove 42 into which the magnetic pole electrode 50 is inserted in communication with the through groove 36 of the flange portion 30 vertically. And two fastening grooves 44 penetrating to the left and right sides of the electrode holder 40 in the direction perpendicular to the insertion groove 42. As the insertion groove 42 and the through groove 36 are vertically communicated with each other, the stimulation electrode 50 may maintain verticality even if the skull surface of the test object is not flat.

In addition, the miniature electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation of the present invention is a pair of metal plate 70 and the electrode holder (inserted into the insertion groove 42 of the electrode holder 40 with the stimulation electrode 50 therebetween) It further comprises a pair of electrode support member 60 in the form of screws which are respectively fastened to the left and right fastening grooves 44 of 40. The electrode support member 60 is made of a conductive metal material and serves to support the magnetic pole electrode 50 in contact with the support plate 70 inserted into the insertion groove 42.

The plate 70 serves to prevent deformation of the magnetic pole electrode 50, which may be caused by the electrode support member 60 fastened to the left and right fastening grooves 44 of the electrode holder 40. In this regard, the size of the insertion groove 42 of the electrode holder 40 is preferably wider than the size of the through groove 36 of the flange portion 30 because the plate 70 is inserted.

In this embodiment, each of the pair of electrode support members 60 is screwed opposite to both sides of the pole electrode 50 to support the pole electrode 50, but is inserted as only one support member 60. Of course, the magnetic pole electrode 50 may be supported by contacting the plate 70 inserted into the groove 42.

Each of the pair of electrode support members 60 includes a screw portion 62 fastened by screwing to a fastening groove 44 formed in the electrode holder 40, and a head 64 protruding from the screw portion 62. Is done.

On the other hand, one side of the electrode holder 40 is coupled to the metal connector 80 is interposed by the electrode support member 60, the other side of the electrode holder 40, the magnetic pole electrode by the other electrode support member 60 A metal washer 90 is interposed and coupled to the 50 so as to be positioned at the center.

The connector 80 is bent from the coupling portion 82 and the coupling portion 82 having a coupling groove coupled to the head 64 of the electrode support member 60 and extended along the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 30. It consists of an extension part 83. Therefore, the connector 80 has a shape bent in the shape of "L" as a whole, and the space occupied by the anchor fixed to the skull is minimized due to the bent shape of the connector 80. In addition, the connector 80 is plated with a conductive metal such as tin on the surface thereof and soldered to the sheathed cable 88. The sheathed cable 88 is covered with an insulator and is connected to a deep brain stimulator (not shown) to receive current from the deep brain stimulator.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrode system for a small cranial nerve stimulation of the present invention inserts the stimulation electrode 50 into the insertion groove 42 of the electrode holder 40, and includes an electrode support member 60 and a washer ( 90 and the connector 80 and the cable 88 are assembled. If the stimulation electrode 50 reaches the target portion of the brain of the test object, there is an excess portion remaining over the insertion groove 42, and the excess portion is cut out using a cutter and then used.

In addition, in the electrode system of the present invention, the current supplied through the deep brain stimulator is provided to the stimulation electrode 50 through the cable 88, the connector 80, the electrode support member 60, the insulation of the current The cover 200 may be fastened to the electrode holder 40 for this purpose.

When applying the electrode system for a small brain stimulation of the present invention configured as described above in the experimental mice, the stimulation electrode 50 is located in the hypothalamus, the position of the rat brain atlas (See, Paxinos G, Watson C: The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, ed 4th.San Diego: Academic Press, 1998), and then the stimulation electrode 50 was inserted into the target position using a brain stereotactic instrument.

Four weeks after the procedure, the stimulation electrode 50 extracted the brain of the treated specimen to make a section of 20 μm, and after the needle staining, the path of the electrode at the stimulated position and the position of the electrode were checked. Check that it was inserted correctly.

As described above, the anchor 20 according to the embodiment of the electrode system of the present invention includes the electrode holder 40 and the flange portion 30 integrally formed, and the magnetic pole electrode 50 is supported by the support plate 70. Inserted into the insertion groove 42 of the holder 40, and screwing the electrode support member 60, the connector 80 is connected to the fastening groove 44 of the electrode holder 40 to fix the pole electrode 50 Since it is a structure, it is simple and easy to use.

What has been described above is only one preferred embodiment of the miniature electrode system for brain stimulation according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, as claimed in the following claims Without departing from the gist of the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art will have the technical spirit of the present invention to the extent that various modifications can be made.

Claims

An electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation,

A stimulation electrode for electrically stimulating a specific area in the skull of the test object;

An anchor fixed to the surface of the skull of the test object, the anchor having a bottom portion of which is fixed to the skull of the test object, a flange portion having a through groove into which the stimulation electrode is inserted, and an upper portion of the flange portion; And an electrode holder integrally formed with the flange portion and having an insertion groove communicating vertically with the through groove of the flange portion, wherein the magnetic pole electrode is inserted through the insertion groove of the electrode holder and the through groove of the flange portion. Inserted to reach a specific site;

An electrode support member fastened to both sides of the electrode holder and supporting the magnetic pole electrode inserted into the insertion groove of the electrode holder from both sides;

And a connector coupled to one side of the electrode holder by the electrode support member and transferring a current to the stimulation electrode through the electrode support member.
The method of claim 1,

Each of the electrode supporting members is a conductor, and the connector is coupled to one side of the electrode holder by any one of the electrode supporting members, and the other electrode supporting member is connected to the other side of the electrode holder. An electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation, which is interposed and coupled with a washer so as to be located at the center.
The method of claim 1,

The connector includes a coupling portion having a coupling groove coupled to the head of the electrode support member and an extension of the nerve nerve stimulation electrode extending from the coupling portion.
The method of claim 1,

The electrode holder further includes a coupling groove formed on both sides of the electrode holder penetrated in a direction perpendicular to the insertion groove,

The electrode support member is fastened through the fastening groove, the electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation to contact the stimulation electrode inserted into the insertion groove to support the stimulation electrode on both sides.
The pair of metal plates of claim 1, wherein the electrode system is inserted into an insertion groove of the electrode holder with the magnetic pole electrode interposed therebetween to prevent deformation of the magnetic pole electrode by the electrode support member fastened to the coupling groove. Brain system for stimulating the nerve system further comprises.
The method of claim 1,

The flange portion has an inclined end portion at both sides thereof, the inclined end portion is formed with a screw groove for fastening the anchor to the surface of the skull of the test object, the screw groove is perpendicular to the surface of the inclined end portion An electrode system for cranial nerve stimulation formed to be inclined in a direction.
The electrode system of claim 1, wherein the electrode system further comprises a cover covering the electrode holder of the anchor for insulation.