Electrical brain-contact devices

Claim 2

In an electrical brain-contact device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to a linear array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount; and the connector means including: a base member with a matching array of take-up terminals; a yoke member movable with respect to the base member, said base member and yoke member forming therebetween a space for the terminal mount, said take-up terminals extending from the base member into said space; and means to removably draw and hold the yoke and base members together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact, said holding and drawing means acting through the lead-wire terminals to move the take-up terminals in a direction away from said space and establish good electrical contact between said lead-wire terminals and said take-up terminals, whereby electrical connection of brain-contact devices is facilitated.

Claim 3

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 1 wherein the terminal mount comprises a sheathing with the lead wires therein and the lead-wire terminals spaced therealong.

Claim 4

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 2 wherein the sheathing is tubular and the lead-wire terminals are rings therearound.

Claim 5

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 3 wherein the tubular sheathing extends from the tissue-engagement member for substantially the entire length of the lead wires.

Claim 6

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 4 wherein the terminal mount has a tapered lead end thereby facilitating various insertion steps such as insertion through a needle and insertion into the terminal-mount space in the connector means over the take-up terminals.

Claim 7

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 4 wherein the tissue-engagement member is a tubular depth probe which is a continuation of the sheathing such that the tubular sheathing extends along substantially the entire combined lengths of the depth probe, the lead wires, and the terminal mount, whereby insertion into the brain is facilitated when using a stylette within such tubular sheathing and/or when inserting through a cannula already in place.

Claim 8

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 4 wherein: the tissue-engagement member is a substantially flat flexible non-conductive member having a proximal edge; the electrodes are flat members on and coplanar with the flexible member; and the lead wires extend within the flexible member to the tubular sheathing at the proximal edge, whereby the lead wires may be threaded at one time through a needle to exit the scalp at a site removed from the tissue-engagement member.

Claim 9

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 7 wherein the flexible member thickness is less than about 0.30 mm.

Claim 10

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 2 wherein: the base and yoke members have major portions which are semi-cylindroids which together form a cylindroid; and the holding means is a clamp ring extending around the cylindroid.

Claim 11

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 9 wherein the clamp ring has a gap of dimension enough such that the lead wires may pass therethrough to facilitate mounting of the clamp ring.

Claim 12

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 9 wherein the terminal-mount space is along the axis of the cylindroid.

Claim 13

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 11 wherein: the base member forms terminal niches along the terminal-mount space; the take-up terminals, when the terminal mount is removed, extend from the niches into the terminal-mount space; and the take-up terminals are depressed by the terminal mount, when the terminal mount is in place, such that the lead-wire terminals are in firm electrical contact with the take-up terminals.

Claim 14

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 12 wherein: the sheathing is tubular and the lead-wire terminals are rings therearound; one of the base and yoke members has brackets at either end, the other of such members being receivable between the brackets; and one of the brackets forms a substantially axial opening receiving the tubular sheathing.

Claim 15

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 13 wherein the sheathing has a marking thereon to facilitate alignment of the arrays.

Claim 16

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 13 wherein the other bracket forms a stop for the tubular sheathing, whereby alignment of the arrays is facilitated.

Claim 17

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 13 wherein the other bracket forms an axial opening to receive and hold the terminal mount along the axis of the cylindroid, thereby facilitating proper assembly of the terminal mount with the connector means.

Claim 18

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 2 wherein: the base member is a first block having a substantially planar first surface; the yoke member is a second block having a substantially planar second surface against the first surface; at least one of the first and second surfaces has a major groove extending thereacross to form the space for the terminal mount; and the take-up terminals are secured to the first block and extend in spaced fashion across the major groove.

Claim 19

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 20 wherein the first surface includes the major groove.

Claim 20

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 18 wherein the second surface is substantially flat, the terminal mount, the major groove, and the take-up terminals dimensioned and arranged such that drawing the first and second surfaces together clamps the arrays firmly together.

Claim 21

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 19 wherein the first block has one open end and one closed end for the major groove, thereby to facilitate proper alignment of the arrays.

Claim 22

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 1 wherein: the base member forms terminal niches along the terminal-mount space; the take-up terminals, when the terminal mount is removed, extend from the niches into the terminal-mount space; and the take-up terminals are depressed by the terminal mount, when the terminal mount is in place, such that the lead-wire terminals are in firm electrical contact with the take-up terminals.

Claim 23

In an electrical brain-contact device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a tubular sheathing extending from the tissue-engagement member for substantially the entire length of the lead wires and having the lead wires therein, and said lead-wire terminals being rings around and spaced along said sheathing; the conductor means including a base member with a matching array of take-up terminals, a yoke member movable with respect to the base member and forming therebetween a space for the terminal mount, and means to hold the yoke and base members together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact; and a pull line attached to the terminal mount inside the sheathing thereof and extending from the terminal mount in a direction away from the lead wires, whereby electrical connection of brain-contact devices is facilitated.

Claim 24

In an electrical brain-contact device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a tubular sheathing extending from the tissue-engagement member for substantially the entire length of the lead wires and having the lead wires therein, and said lead-wire terminals being rings around and spaced along said sheathing; the conductor means including a base member with a matching array of take-up terminals, a yoke member movable with respect to the base member and forming therebetween a space for the terminal mount, and means to hold the yoke and base members together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact; and a pull line attached to the terminal mount inside the sheathing thereof and extending from the terminal mount in a direction away from the lead wires, whereby electrical connection of brain-contact devices is facilitated.

Claim 25

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 22 wherein: the tissue-engagement member is a substantially flat flexible non-conductive member having a proximal edge; the electrodes are flat members on and coplanar with the flexible member; and the lead wires extend within the flexible member to the tubular sheathing at the proximal edge, whereby the lead wires may be threaded at one time through a needle to exit the scalp at a site removed from the tissue-engagement member.

Claim 26

In an electrical brain-contact device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a sheathing with the lead wires therein and said lead-wire terminals spaced therealong; and the connector means including: a first block having first surface and an array of take-up terminals matching the array of lead-wire terminals, a second block having a second surface against the first surface, said second block movable with respect to the first block, at least one of the first and second surfaces having a major groove which forms between the first and second surfaces a space for the terminal mount, said take-up terminals secured to the first block and extending in spaced fashion across the major groove, and a screw member extending between the first and second blocks to progressively draw the first and second surfaces together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact, whereby electrical connection is facilitated.

Claim 27

In an electrical brain-contact device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a sheathing with the lead wires therein and said lead-wire terminals spaced therealong; and the connector means including: a first block having first surface and an array of take-up terminals matching the array of lead-wire terminals, a second block having a second surface against the first surface, said second block movable with respect to the first block, at least one of the first and second surfaces having a major groove which forms between the first and second surfaces a space for the terminal mount, said take-up terminals secured to the first block and extending in spaced fashion across the major groove, and a screw member extending between the first and second blocks to progressively draw the first and second surfaces together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact, whereby electrical connection is facilitated.

Claim 28

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 24 wherein the first surface includes the major groove, the second surface is substantially flat, and the terminal mount, the major groove and the take-up terminals are dimensioned and arranged such that drawing the first and second surfaces together clamps the arrays firmly together.

Claim 29

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 25 wherein there is only one screw member as the sole interconnection of the first and second blocks such that the second block is pivotable with respect to the first block to substantially uncover the major groove to facilitate insertion of the terminal mount when the screw member is loosened.

Claim 30

In an electrical device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a sheathing with the lead wires therein and said lead-wire terminals spaced therealong; and the connector means including: a first block having first surface and an array of take-up terminals matching the array of lead-wire terminals, a second block movable with respect to the first block and including a substantially flat second surface, the first surface having a major groove which forms between the first and second surfaces a space for the terminal mount, the first block having a side surface parallel to the major groove, said take-up terminals being substantially straight wires embedded in the first block, extending in spaced fashion across the major groove, and terminating in connector ends exposed along the side surface, and means to hold the first and second blocks together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact, the terminal mount, major groove and take-up terminals dimensioned and arranged such that drawing the first and second surfaces together clamps the arrays firmly together, whereby electrical connection is facilitated.

Claim 31

In an electrical device of the type having a tissue-engagement member with a plurality of electrodes, separate lead wires from the tissue-engagement member for each electrode, and means away from the tissue-engagement member to connect the lead wires with individual conductors, the improvement comprising: the lead wires extending from the tissue-engagement member to a terminal mount and to an array of lead-wire terminals on and forming a part of the terminal mount, said terminal mount being a sheathing with the lead wires therein and said lead-wire terminals spaced therealong; and the connector means including: a first block having first surface and an array of take-up terminals matching the array of lead-wire terminals, a second block movable with respect to the first block and including a substantially flat second surface, the first surface having a major groove which forms between the first and second surfaces a space for the terminal mount, the first block having a side surface parallel to the major groove, said take-up terminals being substantially straight wires embedded in the first block, extending in spaced fashion across the major groove, and terminating in connector ends exposed along the side surface, and means to hold the first and second blocks together with the arrays in terminal-to-terminal contact, the terminal mount, major groove and take-up terminals dimensioned and arranged such that drawing the first and second surfaces together clamps the arrays firmly together, whereby electrical connection is facilitated.

Claim 32

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 27 wherein the holding means comprises a screw member extending between the first and second blocks to progressively draw the first and second surfaces together.

Claim 33

The electrical brain-contact device of claim 28 wherein there is only one screw member as the sole interconnection of the first and second blocks such that the second block is pivotable with respect to the first block to substantially uncover the major groove to facilitate insertion of the terminal mount when the screw member is loosened.