JP2007325652A - Brain depth stimulation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an order-made treatment proper to patients in a specified target area within the depth of the patient's brain by enabling the specified electric stimulation of cells of the cranial nerves individually. <P>SOLUTION: The brain depth stimulation apparatus is provided with a stylus base body 10 which gets its tip punctured toward the depth of the patient's brain to be dwelled in the brain with its proximal end part positioned in the surface of the brain. Electrode chips 21-28 each comprising a front disc are disposed both on the front and rear of the tip part of the stylus base body 10 and thirty electrode elements 30 in total are arrayed in a matrix on the electrode chips 21-28. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention, for example, is punctured and placed in the deep brain of a patient such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, etc., for example, to each brain nerve cell in the target region in the deep brain of the patient individually to give a predetermined electrical stimulation, For example, the present invention relates to a deep brain stimulation apparatus for enabling the patient-specific order-made treatment.

A device called the Deep Brain Stimulation System (commonly known as a Deep Brain Stimulation System) is a method for suppressing involuntary movements seen in patients with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, etc. A treatment method in which a DBS device) is embedded deep in the brain has attracted attention.

For example, the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 is used as a DBS apparatus that suppresses tremors (such as tremors that occur in limbs that are repeated at a frequency of 4 to 5 times per second) as seen in Parkinson's disease.

This device punctures the tip toward the deep part of the brain, and the needle 1 is placed in the brain with the proximal end positioned on the surface of the brain, and is placed in a body such as the brain, for example. The stimulation current output device 3 is connected to the proximal end portion via the electric cable 2.

The needle body 1 is configured by coating the surface of a tungsten needle with an insulating material. In the needle body 1, the tip end portion and the base end portion to which the electric cable 2 is connected are not coated with the insulating material. . The stimulation current supplied from the output device 3 to the needle body via the electric cable 2 can be output from the tip of the needle body 1 toward the brain nerve cells 4 existing in the target region shown in FIG. In the output device 3 that supplies the stimulation current toward the proximal end portion of the needle body 1, a stimulation current having a predetermined current value and a current waveform is output to the battery as a power supply unit and the brain neurons 4. A control circuit is built in.

In order to place such a DBS device in the brain, as shown in FIG. 18, the needle body 1 is inserted into a covered tube 5 formed of a silicon tube or the like having a certain degree of rigidity, and the covered tube 5 is placed in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation of puncturing toward the target area A in the deep brain is first performed. This operation is performed by first opening the top of the skull, fixing the skull in the opened state, and puncturing and guiding the covered tube 5 to the target area A while confirming a predetermined target coordinate area A with an MRI image. The operation is performed.

In the so-called brain map, the position of the brain neuron in the deep brain that seems to act on the tremor of Parkinson's disease is usually specified. First, in the region A in the deep brain, the needle body 1 from the tip of the covering tube 5 is identified. In this state, as shown in FIG. 16, the current generated from the contacted brain nerve cell 4 is measured. Current measurement is performed by connecting an ammeter to the proximal end of the needle body 1, and the current value and current waveform of the generated current that is generated from the corresponding cell 4 and seems to be acting on tremor are oscillometrically. This is done by monitoring.

In this way, the tip of the needle body 1 is brought into contact with several cranial nerve cells 4 and current measurement is performed. Then, the tip of the needle body 1 is brought into contact with the brain neuron 4 suitable for supplying the stimulation current. A cell in A is selected, and the tip of the needle body 1 is brought into contact with and positioned in the corresponding cerebral nerve cell 4 as shown in FIG. 19, and then the coated tube 5 punctured to the deep brain is removed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, the needle body 1 punctured deep in the brain with the tip of the needle body 1 in contact with and positioned in the corresponding cranial nerve cell 4 is placed in the brain. The proximal end portion of the policy body 1 is positioned on the brain surface (see FIG. 15). In this state, based on the current value and current waveform of the generated current of the corresponding cerebral cell that has been monitored and stored oscillometrically, the generated current is canceled and a tremor is not generated. A control program for outputting the current value and the current waveform is stored in the control circuit in the output device 3. In this way, the output device 3 in which the program for storing the intrinsic stimulation current for the patient is stored in the control circuit is embedded in the body (for example, the chest), the brain surface electric cable 2 is passed from the output device 3 into the body, and the proximal end of the needle 1 The cable 2 is connected to the part. Incidentally, the needle 1 that punctures the brain for current measurement and the needle 1 that contacts the tip of the cell 4 and is placed in the brain when a specific target neuron 4 is determined are different. It was supposed to be.

Subsequently, the skull that had been in the craniotomy was attached to the top again to complete the operation, and the stimulation current consisting of a predetermined current value and current waveform was transmitted from the output device 3 via the cable 2 to the corresponding deep brain. The cerebral nerve cells 4 are supplied. As a result, tremors seen in patients with Parkinson's disease can be suppressed, and order-made treatment corresponding to each patient can be realized.

JP-A-10-137346 JP2000-334048

By the way, according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 20, when a DBS device is embedded in the brain, current measurement of each brain nerve cell that exists in the target region A and seems to act on, for example, Parkinson's disease tremor. It must be done. Such electrical measurement for each cell places a heavy burden on the doctor in time-limited brain surgery, and among the cells existing in the target region A, the brain nerves that are thought to particularly act on tremor etc. There is a need for a method that can accurately capture cells.

Further, according to the conventional method shown in FIGS. 13 to 20, as a result of the current measurement, the brain neuron 4 suitable for supplying the stimulation current is determined from the cells in the target A, and the needle 1 After contact and positioning of the tip, the skull is closed as it is.

For this reason, although the stimulation current is supplied to the corresponding cell 4 for a certain period after the operation, the position of the cell that acts on the tremors slightly changes due to the behavior caused by the stimulation current for the other surrounding cells. In some cases, a method of adjusting the current value and current waveform of the stimulation current and adjusting the supply of the stimulation current to the cells in the target A can be considered.

For this adjustment, there has been no choice but to rely on re-surgery so far, since the surgery has to be reopened and current measurement must be performed on the same target A by trial and error, both for the brain surgeon and for the patient. This is a big burden.

The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problem, and in a specific target region deep in the brain of a patient, it is possible to individually give a predetermined electrical stimulus to each brain neuron, The purpose is to make it possible to realize a patient-specific order-made treatment.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a deep brain stimulation apparatus that punctures a deep part of a patient's brain and is placed and applies electrical stimulation to cerebral nerve cells in the deep brain, and punctures the tip toward the deep brain, A needle-like substrate placed in the brain with the proximal end positioned on the brain surface, and a plurality of electrode elements arranged at intervals of 5 μm to 500 μm are arranged on the surface of the distal end portion of the needle-like substrate. And an electric current generated from a brain nerve cell disposed at the proximal end of the needle-shaped substrate, electrically connected to each electrode element of the electrode chip, and disposed opposite to each electrode element of the electrode chip. In this embodiment, the brain deep stimulation apparatus includes an electrode terminal that can input or output a stimulation current supplied from a power source to a cerebral nerve cell arranged to face each electrode element of the electrode chip.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the needle-shaped substrate is a long and thin plate-like plate, and a plurality of electrode tips are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the tip portion of the needle-shaped substrate. The deep brain stimulator described in 1. above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, each electrode element of the electrode chip is in the form of a protrusion that is arranged in a matrix and can be engaged with a cranial nerve cell that is disposed to face the deep brain. It is a stimulation device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to measure the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the electrode tip at the electrode terminal disposed at the proximal end portion of the needle-shaped substrate, respectively. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring means is connected.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the electrode terminal disposed at the base end of the needle-shaped substrate has a stimulus having a predetermined current value and current waveform individually from the power source toward each electrode element of the electrode chip. 2. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal processing control means capable of selectively outputting current is connected.

Further, according to claim 6 of the present invention, the signal processing control means can perform an operation of output control of stimulation currents individually output from the power source to each electrode element of the electrode chip by radio from outside the body, 6. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the current value and the current waveform of the stimulation current are controlled so as to be adjustable by a wireless operation signal.

The seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a tubular body having flexibility as a whole and is provided on the peripheral portion of a needle-like base that punctures toward the deep brain of the patient, and is disposed at the tip of the needle-like base. 2. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a covering tube having an opening at a tip thereof for disposing an electrode tip portion opposite to a cerebral nerve cell in the deep brain that has been punctured.

Further, according to claim 8 of the present invention, the entire needle-like substrate inserted into a covered tube used for puncturing a needle-like substrate having a sheathed tube sheathed toward the deep part of the patient's brain and puncturing the deep part of the brain. 8. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a shape-retaining wire for retaining rigidity.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a memory for recording and storing the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the measured electrode chip is connected to the measuring means. The deep brain stimulator described in 1. above.

According to claim 1 of the present invention, a specific electrical stimulation can be individually applied to each brain neuron in a specific target region deep in the brain of the patient's brain, and the patient's unique order-made It becomes possible to realize the treatment of

According to claim 2 of the present invention, since a plurality of electrode tips are provided, a more precise and accurate treatment can be realized in a specific target region.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the brain neurons corresponding to each electrode element are firmly connected, and a more precise and accurate treatment can be realized.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the current from the cerebral nerve cell can be measured corresponding to each electrode element, a more precise and accurate treatment can be realized.

According to claim 5 of the present invention, it becomes possible to individually output a stimulation current having a predetermined current value and current waveform to each electrode element, thereby realizing a more precise and accurate treatment.

According to claim 6 of the present invention, since the operation for controlling the output of the stimulation current can be individually performed from the outside after the brain surgery, the burden on the doctor and the patient can be reduced, and more precise and accurate treatment can be realized. It becomes.

According to claim 7 of the present invention, it is possible to guide the tip of the needle-shaped substrate to a specific target region more safely in a state where the coated tube is extrapolated.

According to claim 8 of the present invention, similarly to claim 7, it is possible to more safely guide the tip of the needle-like substrate to a specific target region in a state where the covering tube is extrapolated.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the measuring means is connected to a memory for recording and storing the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the measured electrode chip, Based on the measured current value and current waveform, it is possible to easily select the brain neuron to which the stimulation current is to be output. As a result, the current value and current waveform of the stimulation current output from the signal output means are adjusted as data. It can be used.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the measuring means is connected to a memory for recording and storing the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the measured electrode chip, Based on the measured current value and recorded current value and current waveform, it is possible to easily select the brain neuron to which the stimulation current is to be output, and consequently the current value and current of the stimulation current that is output from the signal output means. It can be used as data for adjusting the waveform.

The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a needle-like base body 10 that is punctured with a distal end toward a deep brain of a patient and a proximal end portion is positioned on the brain surface and is placed in the brain.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the needle-like base body 10 is a thin plate-like one that is long and has a strip shape, and has an upper base end located on the brain surface and a lower tip. Is punctured into the brain and placed in place so that it can be used. The needle-like substrate 10 has a length L of the tip region in FIG. 1A punctured and placed in the brain having a length of about 80 mm to 160 mm. Comprises a pointed portion 11 for reducing resistance when puncturing the base body 10 into the brain. The width W (see FIG. 1 (A)) of the needle-like substrate 10 is about 2 to 6 mm. Further, the thickness T of the needle-like substrate 10 shown in FIG. 1B is about 300 μm to 1 mm.

On the other hand, in the state where the distal end region L of the needle-like substrate 10 is indwelled in the brain, the length L1 of the proximal end located on the brain surface is about 7 to 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, a connection plug 14 disposed at one end of an electric cable 13 extending from the output base 12 embedded in the body (for example, the chest) to the brain through the body is shown in FIG. Connection is possible as shown.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a plurality of electrode chips each having a front circular shape are arranged on both the front and back surfaces of the distal end portion of the needle-like substrate 10. That is, four electrode tips of the electrode tip 21 to the electrode tip 24 are arranged on the tip surface side of the needle-like substrate 10 with a predetermined vertical interval (5 to 8 mm interval). The four electrode tips of the electrode tip 25 to the electrode tip 28 are similarly arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction.

The electrode chips 21 to 28 in the needle-like substrate 10 are patterned into a thin film on the surface of the substrate 10 formed of a thin plate substrate such as a silicon substrate, and the electrode chips 21 to 21 having a circular shape as shown in FIG. A total of 30 electrode elements 30 are arranged in the matrix 28. The electrode elements 30 can be arranged at intervals of 5 μm to 500 μm corresponding to the intervals between the cranial nerve cells in the deep brain, and in the embodiment, the electrodes 30 are patterned at intervals of 200 μm.

As shown in FIG. 3, each electrode element 30 is formed so as to protrude outward in a protruding shape when viewed from the side. The protruding element 30 is further formed on the patterned element by electrodeposition or the like. It is formed by depositing a conductive metal by a method. The front and back surfaces of the needle-shaped substrate 10 formed of a silicon substrate or the like are covered with an insulating film such as an oxide film for portions other than the electrode elements 30 arranged in a matrix of the electrode chips 21 to 28. Pattern wires 31 extending upward from the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 are arranged in layers on the inner layer of the needle-shaped substrate 10 that is covered with an insulating film and forms a laminated structure (see FIG. 2). The pattern wiring 31 extends to the base end located on the surface of the brain in a state where the tip of the needle-like substrate 10 is punctured into the brain, and an electrode that can be connected to the connection plug 14 at the base end It will be positioned as a terminal 32. That is, the electrode terminal 32 is configured by a number of terminal groups corresponding to each electrode element 30, and terminals corresponding to the number of each electrode element 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 are present at the upper end of the substrate 10. .

As a result, the electrode terminal 32 disposed at the base end portion of the needle-shaped substrate 10 and electrically connected to the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 as shown in FIG. In the state where each electrode element 30 of each electrode chip 21 to 28 is arranged corresponding to the corresponding cranial nerve cell, a weak current generated from the oppositely arranged cranial nerve cell is input, respectively. be able to. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, by connecting the current measuring means 33 (current wave measuring meter) to the electrode terminal 32, the means 33 receives each input from each electrode element 30 of each electrode chip 21-28. It is possible to input and monitor the current value and current waveform of the current generated from the brain neurons, and to store such data.

On the other hand, the connection plug 14 is connected to the electrode terminal 32, and the current supplied from the power supply 34 (battery) built in the output device 12 from the electrode terminal 32, for example, is signal processing control means built in the output device 12. In 35, it is converted into a predetermined current value and current waveform, and can be selectively output to each electrode element 30 of the individual electrode chips 21-28. That is, the signal processing control processing means 35 can supply a current having a predetermined current value and a current waveform set in advance to the corresponding electrode element 30 via the electrode terminal 32, and thereby the deep brain part. In the state where the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 are arranged to face the corresponding brain neurons, the corresponding stimulation currents from the electrode elements 30 arranged to face the desired brain nerve cells. Can be output.

The deep brain stimulation apparatus provided with the needle-like base body 10 having such a configuration is a tubular body having overall flexibility as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 when puncturing the deep brain and placing it in the brain. It is made by inserting into a covering tube 37 that is made of a body and covers the peripheral portion of the needle-shaped substrate 10. That is, the coated tube 37 has affinity for the human body such as a silicon tube, and protects the brain cells from being damaged when the needle-like substrate 10 made of, for example, a thin metal piece is punctured deep in the brain. ing. Moreover, since each electrode element 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 is formed in a protruding shape, the electrode element 30 may damage brain cells by inserting the needle-like substrate 10 into the covered tube 37 and puncturing it deep in the brain. Few.

In addition, on the distal end side of the coated tube 37, the portions of the electrode chips 21 to 28 disposed on the front side of the needle-like substrate 10 inserted into the tube 37 are connected to the cerebral nerve cells deep in the punctured brain. Eight openings 38 are respectively provided to be exposed at the opposing positions (see FIG. 5).

In this way, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the covering tube 37 is sheathed on the periphery, and the needle-like base body 10 in which the positions of the electrode tips 21 to 28 are positioned corresponding to the respective opening portions 38 is provided as necessary. When the shape-retaining wire 39 is inserted into the needle-shaped substrate 10 (see FIG. 4) and the needle-shaped substrate 10 coated with the coated tube 37 is punctured deep into the brain, the entire rigidity of the needle-shaped substrate 10 is maintained. The shape of the straight body is maintained, and the operation of reaching the needle-like substrate 10 toward the target A in FIG. 7 is facilitated.

The operation of puncturing the needle-shaped substrate 10 with the tube 37 sheathed toward the target region A in the deep brain shown in FIG. 7 is performed by first opening the top of the skull and fixing the skull in the opened state. While confirming a predetermined target coordinate area A with an MRI image, an operation of puncturing and guiding the tip of the needle-like substrate 10 to the target area A is performed.

Then, in a state where the peripheral portion of the needle-like base body 10 is positioned in a predetermined target region A based on a so-called brain map, the shape-retaining wire 39 is once pulled out from the coated tube 37, and the corresponding portion in the opening 38 as shown in FIG. In this state, the brain neurons 40 existing in the target area A are arranged to face each of the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28.

At this time, since the electrode elements 30 arranged in a matrix are adjacent to each other with an interval of 200 μm, adjacent brain neurons 40 in the deep brain at an interval of about 5 to 500 μm come into contact with individual brain neurons. The probability of doing will increase accordingly. Further, since each electrode element 30 has a projection shape, the element 30 can be firmly engaged with each brain neuron 40 that is contacted through the opening 38, and the electrical contact is increased accordingly. Is possible.

In this state, the electrode terminal 32 at the proximal end portion of the needle-like base 32 is connected to the current measuring means 32, and the current value of the generated current generated from the cells input from the electrode elements 30 of the corresponding electrode tips 21 to 28. The current waveform is monitored and recorded oscillometrically by the means 32 and stored in the memory 41. And, for example, when the patient is a Parkinson's disease patient and tremor exists, it becomes possible to identify the brain neuron cell 40 that is the cause by the recorded data stored in the memory 41 by the measured current value or current waveform, The position information of the cells 40 that engage with the specific electrode elements 30 in each of the electrode chips 21 to 28 can be combined and narrowed down from the data stored in the memory 41.

Thus, for example, when a brain neuron 40 that causes a patient's tremor is specified, based on the current value and current waveform of the generated current of the specified brain neuron, these generated currents are offset so as not to generate tremor. Therefore, a control program for outputting a predetermined current value and current waveform is stored in the signal processing control means 35 (see FIG. 11) existing in the output device 12 shown in FIG. In this way, the signal processing control unit 35 can store a stimulation current output program specific to the patient. At this time, a stimulation current consisting of a specific current value and current waveform for each electrode element 30 of each electrode chip 21 to 28. Can be stored in the signal processing control unit 35 in a composite manner.

In this way, in the target region A in the deep brain specific to the patient to which the power supply 34 is output to the signal processing control unit 35, the output current value and current waveform output to each brain neuron 40 in contact with the electrode element 30 are output. When the program is stored, the coated tube 37 is removed from the needle-shaped substrate 10 as shown in FIG. 9 from the coated tube 37 for the needle-shaped substrate 10 shown in FIG. In this way, in the outer peripheral portion of the needle-shaped substrate 10, the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 are directly engaged with and contacted with the corresponding brain neurons 40 as shown in FIG. 9 from the state shown in FIG. The needle-like substrate 10 punctured deep in the brain is placed in the brain in a state where the base end portion is positioned on the brain surface.

In this state, the connection plug 14 is connected to the electrode terminal 32 at the proximal end portion of the needle-shaped substrate 10, and the current supplied from the power supply 34 (battery) in the output device 14 is output by the signal processing control means 35. As a result, a stimulation current consisting of a specific current value and current waveform is output through the power terminal 32 for each electrode terminal 30 of each of the electrode chips 21 to 28. Thus, it is possible to prevent involuntary movements and specific dysfunctions, such as the patient's unique tremor, by the inherent stimulation current that is output, and when such a condition is confirmed, close the head and complete the surgery. To do.

In this way, the needle-like substrate 10 is placed in the brain of the patient, and specific brain neurons 40 in the target area A that are arranged to face each electrode element 30 of each electrode chip 21 to 28 are individually specified in a predetermined manner. Electrical stimulation will be given, and the patient's unique order-made treatment can be realized. In particular, based on the current measurement data recorded and stored in the memory 41, the cells to be electrically stimulated can be easily captured, and the current value and waveform of the stimulation current can be arbitrarily set, so that patient-oriented medical care can be realized. become.

After such an operation, the position of the cranial nerve cell in the target area A that has caused involuntary movements and specific dysfunctions such as tremors that have been subtly changed in the past, or the current value or current waveform of the stimulation current must be changed in some cases. There was something that had to be done. In such a case, according to the above embodiment, the control program stored in the signal processing control means 35 shown in FIG. 11 is adjusted, and the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28 that output the stimulation current are changed. The current value or current waveform may be changed for adjustment.

In such adjustment, when the battery power supply in the output device 12 embedded in the body is replaced, the current measuring means 33 is connected to the electric cable 13 to contact the electrode elements 30 from the electrode elements 30 of the electrode chips 21 to 28. The current value generated from the brain god cell 40 may be measured again and monitored. That is, based on such re-measurement, the control program stored in the signal processing control unit 35 can be rewritten and adjusted, so that it is possible to easily cope with a change in the patient's medical condition.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a radio signal processing receiving unit 36 is attached to the signal processing control means 35 built in the output device, and the control is stored in the signal processing control means 35 by radio from outside the body including the brain. The program is rewritten based on the transmission signal, and the output control operation of the stimulation current individually output from the battery power source 34 toward the electrode elements 30 of the power supply chips 21 to 28 is performed, and the current value and current waveform of the stimulation current are changed. It is also possible to control so as to be adjustable by a radio operation signal.

In addition, the battery power source 34 may be a rechargeable power source, and charging may be supplied to the power source 34 by radio from outside the body.

In the above embodiment, the output device 12 is implanted in the body (inside the chest), and the electric cable 13 is connected to the proximal end portion of the needle-like substrate 10 embedded in the brain. Without using the output device 12, a small rechargeable battery power source, the radio signal receiving unit 36 and the signal processing control unit 35 shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the needle-like substrate 10 is formed of a thin plate-like substrate having a strip shape, but a plurality of electrode chips are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the tip surface of the needle-like substrate made of a silicon rod-like body. However, the pattern wiring may be formed upward from each chip.

Furthermore, according to the deep brain stimulation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, it can be used for improvement of involuntary movement of patients such as Parkinson's disease patients and Huntington's disease patients, recovery of specific motor function of stroke patients, and for patients with impaired limbs. It can also be used to improve muscle motor functions, and is also expected to be used for patients with various motor and mental disorders.

FIG. 12 is an example according to a modification of the deep brain stimulation apparatus according to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the electrode chips 21 to 28 are provided on both surfaces of the needle-shaped substrate 10, respectively, but in this embodiment, the electrode chips 23 and 24 are provided only on one side of the needle-shaped substrate 10. It is going to be equipped with. When the needle-like substrate 10 is punctured deep in the brain, it is performed in a state in which the covering tube 37 is externally covered as in FIG.

In the coated tube 37, the opening 38 is provided only on one side corresponding to the electrode tips 23 and 24. When the needle-like substrate 10 with the tube 37 sheathed is inserted into the deep brain, the shape-retaining wire 39A is placed in the tube 37 as in FIG.

Here, the shape-retaining wire 39A has an oval cross section when viewed from above as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the shape-retaining wire 39A having an oval cross section is rotated by an angle of 90 degrees in a state where the needle-like substrate 10 sheathed on the covering tube 37 is punctured to a predetermined deep brain. Then, each electrode tip 23, 24 is pushed out by the shape-retaining wire 39 </ b> A and moves in the direction of arrow X, and each electrode element 30 advances from the opening 38 toward the brain nerve cell 40.

In this way, it is possible to input a current generated from each brain neuron at the part of each electrode element 30 of the electrode chips 23 and 24 advanced from the opening 38, the electrode measurement is completed, and the needle-like substrate 10 is moved to the brain. When indwelling inside, the shape-retaining wire 39A and the coated tube 37 may be removed from the brain.

In the deep brain stimulation apparatus according to the best embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a front view of a needle-like substrate, and (B) is a view showing the same side surface. It is an enlarged view which shows the II section of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows II-II of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the acicular base | substrate inserted in the coating tube. It is a front view which shows the state which inserts a needle-shaped base | substrate into a covering tube. It is a sectional side view which consists of a state which inserted the acicular base | substrate in the covering tube. It is a side view of the brain showing a state where a needle-like substrate inserted into a coated tube is punctured with respect to the deep brain. It is side sectional drawing which shows the acicular base | substrate which was punctured in the deep brain part and was inserted in the coating tube. It is a sectional side view of the acicular base | substrate indwelled in the deep brain part. It is a side view which shows the state which embeds the deep brain stimulation apparatus which concerns on the best embodiment of this invention in a human body. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a deep brain stimulation apparatus. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 8 which shows the Example of a acicular base | substrate. It is a side view which shows the state which embeds the conventional deep brain stimulation apparatus in a human body. It is an enlarged view which shows the XIV part of FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of the conventional deep brain stimulation apparatus. It is a side view which shows the state which measures the electric current output from a cerebral nerve cell with a needle body. It is a side view which shows the state which punctures the needle body inserted in the coating tube toward the specific target in a brain. It is sectional drawing which shows the needle body inserted in the covering tube. It is an enlarged view which shows the state which induced the needle body inserted in the covering tube to the corresponding cranial nerve cell in a specific target. It is an enlarged view which shows the state which contacted the front-end | tip of the needle body with the corresponding cranial nerve cell, and was detained.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Needle body 2,13 Electric cable 3.12 Output device 4,40 Cranial nerve cell 5,37 Coated tube 10 Needle-shaped base body 11 Pointed part 14 Connection plug 21-28 Electrode chip 30 Electrode element 31 Pattern wiring 32 Electrode terminal 33 Current measurement Means 34 Power supply 35 Signal processing control means 36 Radio signal receiving part 38 Opening 39, 39A Shape-retaining wire 41 Memory

Claims (9)

A deep brain stimulator that punctures the deep part of a patient's brain and is placed and gives electrical stimulation to brain neurons in the deep brain,
A needle-like substrate that is punctured with the tip toward the deep brain and the base end is located on the surface of the brain, and is placed in the brain;
An electrode chip which is disposed on the surface of the tip portion of the needle-shaped substrate and has a plurality of electrode elements arranged at intervals of 5 μm to 500 μm;
Arranged at the proximal end of the needle-shaped substrate, electrically connected to each electrode element of the electrode tip, and capable of inputting a current generated from a brain neuron arranged opposite to each electrode element of the electrode tip, or An electrode terminal capable of outputting a stimulation current supplied from a power source to brain neurons arranged opposite to each electrode element of the electrode chip;
A deep brain stimulator. 2. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the needle-shaped substrate is a long and thin plate-shaped substrate, and a plurality of electrode tips are disposed on both the front and back surfaces of the tip portion of the needle-shaped substrate. 2. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each electrode element of the electrode chip has a projection-like shape that is arranged in a matrix and can be engaged with a brain neuron arranged to face each other. Measuring means for measuring the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the electrode tip is connected to the electrode terminal disposed at the proximal end portion of the needle-shaped substrate. Item 4. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to Item 1. A signal that allows a stimulation current consisting of a predetermined current value and a current waveform to be selectively output individually from the power source to each electrode element of the electrode chip at the electrode terminal disposed at the proximal end portion of the needle-shaped substrate. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing control means is connected. The signal processing control means enables the operation of the stimulation current output control individually output from the power source to each electrode element of the electrode chip by wireless from outside the body, and the current value and current waveform of the stimulation current are wirelessly transmitted. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deep brain stimulation apparatus is controlled to be adjustable by an operation signal. A brain made of an entirely flexible tubular body that is sheathed around the periphery of a needle-like substrate that punctures toward the deep part of the patient's brain, and that has been punctured with a portion of an electrode chip disposed at the tip of the needle-like substrate The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coated tube having an opening for disposing the deep brain neurons at the tip. A shape-retaining wire that is inserted into a covered tube used for puncturing a needle-shaped substrate with a coated tube facing the deep part of the patient's brain and that retains rigidity throughout the needle-shaped substrate that punctures the deep part of the brain. The deep brain stimulator according to claim 7, which is provided. 5. The deep brain stimulation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a memory for recording and storing the current value and current waveform of the current input from each electrode element side of the measured electrode chip is connected to the measuring means.

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