Abstract: In an improved cranial drill guide for guiding a drill bit during drilling a brain-access hole in a skull, the improvement comprising an elongate guide-body having a wall defining an internal through-hole therealong, the through-hole sized to receive the drill bit, and a side-opening in the wall for passage of bone debris from the drill bit to outside the guide-body.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensoring and monitoring.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensoring and monitoring.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient for facilitating concurrent electrical sensing and fluid flow is provided and includes an outer flexible tube having a proximal end, a principal lumen extending therealong to the proximal end, and at least one radial aperture through the wall communicating with the lumen as well as a secondary lumen adjacent to the tube outer-wall surface and extending therealong. The catheter assembly including a depth electrode within the secondary lumen, extending along the length thereof. The depth electrode having electrical contacts exposed to brain tissue along the flexible tube.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensoring and monitoring.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensing and monitoring.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient for facilitating concurrent electrical sensing and fluid flow is provided and includes an outer flexible tube having a proximal end, a principal lumen extending therealong to the proximal end, and at least one radial aperture through the wall communicating with the lumen as well as a secondary lumen adjacent to the tube outer-wall surface and extending therealong. The catheter assembly including a depth electrode within the secondary lumen, extending along the length thereof. The depth electrode having electrical contacts exposed to brain tissue along the flexible tube.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a multi-contact medical electrode device with a plural-contact tail. Having a tail-receiving first elongate member with a tail-receiving void and a second elongate member. The second elongate member has a nesting surface and an array of electrical conductors which are spring-loaded pin plunger devices. The spring-loaded pin plunger devices having movable pins that project into the tail-receiving void. The second elongate member also having at least one canopy extending from the nesting surface and over a respective electrical conductor, the canopy being configured for snap-engagement with the notch whereby the canopy holds in place the respective linear-array plural-contact tail through locking frictional engagement.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device for contact with the surface of the brain is provided that includes a support member, at least one macroelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the support member and at least one microelectrode sensing element secured with respect to the macroelectrode. The support member is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. The microelectrode sensing element is surrounded by the macroelectrode brain-contact surface of the macroelectrode sensing element. The first surface of the support member, the macroelectrode brain-contact surface and the microelectrode brain-contact surface are substantially co-planar to abut the surface of the brain for sensoring and monitoring.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a linear-array plural-contact tail of an in-body multi-contact medical electrode device. The connector includes an elongate body member defining an elongate void extending along the length of the body member. An array of electrical conductors are secured in the body member and project into the elongate void to facilitate electrical connection of the contacts on the tail when the plural-contact tail is in the elongate void. A cylindrical carrier member is rotatably contained in the elongate void, the carrier member itself forms a tail-receiving subvoid.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a linear-array plural-contact tail of an in-body multi-contact medical electrode device. The connector includes an elongate body member defining an elongate void extending along the length of the body member. An array of electrical conductors are secured in the body member and project into the elongate void to facilitate electrical connection of the contacts on the tail when the plural-contact tail is in the elongate void. A cylindrical carrier member is rotatably contained in the elongate void, the carrier member itself forms a tail-receiving subvoid.

Abstract: A wireless system for monitoring a patient's brain tissue including (1) a plurality of electrodes abutting brain tissue, (2) main circuitry outside the patient's body to transmit power at radio frequencies and send/receive data using infrared energy, and (3) subcutaneously-implanted remote circuitry connected to the electrodes and configured to (a) receive transmitted RF power, (b) capture and digitize EEG signals from the electrodes, and (c) send/receive data to/from the main circuitry using IR energy, including sending digitized EEG signals from each electrode to capture the full bandwidth of each EEG signal. The system preferably includes circuitry to measure the electrical impedance of each electrode for real-time monitoring of the condition of the electrode/tissue interfaces to enhance interpretation of captured EEG signals.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient is disclosed. The assembly comprises outer and inner catheters. The outer catheter has an exterior surface, an inflatable balloon mounted upon the exterior surface, at least one element distal to the balloon, at least one aperture and a lumen. The inner catheter is sized to be received within the lumen and has a passageway extending between a proximal end and at least one port. The lumen is adapted to guide the inner catheter to the desired tissue region in the brain. Each element is adapted to monitor brain activity within the tissue region, to electronically stimulate the tissue region, or to provide information on a precise position of the element when the element is entirely within the brain. The elements are mounted proximal to the distal end of the outer catheter upon the exterior surface of its distal portion.

Abstract: A depth probe for intracranial treatment is provided having a body that includes a distal portion with one aperture and at least one element mounted upon the exterior surface, a lumen defined by the body that is accessed only through the aperture and an opening, and a proximal portion with at least one proximal-contact radially circumscribing the body. The proximal-contact is conductively connected with the element. The lumen is sized to receive coaxially an inner catheter adapted to transfer a fluid such as a drug with a tissue region within the patient's brain. The aperture is coaxial with the lumen and sized to allow the inner catheter to pass through it. The depth probe preferably includes an inflatable balloon secured upon its distal portion proximal to the element. The balloon is adapted to seal upon inflation the tract created by the probe when inserted into the brain.

Abstract: A multiple-use connection system includes an elongate body having an axial tail-receiving passage and having lengthwise sides, and at least two essentially parallel rows of axially-spaced pin receptacles transverse to the tail-receiving passage, the pin receptacles of one of the parallel rows being exposed along one of the lengthwise sides. A patchbay for selectively connecting pairs of connector pins with ones of a plurality of tail conductors includes an insulating body having an axial passageway adapted for receiving a tail and having pairs of aligned pin receptacles, the pairs of pin receptacles being axially spaced from one another, one pin receptacle of each of the pairs of pin receptacles having an exposed portion adapted for being directly probed, where selective placement of pairs of aligned pins into the insulating body effects electrical connection of a pair of pins to a selected one of the tail conductors.

Abstract: A wireless system for monitoring a patient's brain tissue including (1) a plurality of electrodes abutting brain tissue, (2) main circuitry outside the patient's body to transmit power at radio frequencies and send/receive data using infrared energy, and (3) subcutaneously-implanted remote circuitry connected to the electrodes and configured to (a) receive transmitted RF power, (b) capture and digitize EEG signals from the electrodes, and (c) send/receive data to/from the main circuitry using IR energy, including sending digitized EEG signals from each electrode to capture the full bandwidth of each EEG signal. The system preferably includes circuitry to measure the electrical impedance of each electrode for real-time monitoring of the condition of the electrode/tissue interfaces to enhance interpretation of captured EEG signals.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a multi-contact medical electrode device with a plural-contact tail. Having a tail-receiving first elongate member with a tail-receiving void and a second elongate member. The second elongate member has a nesting surface and an array of electrical conductors which are spring-loaded pin plunger devices. The spring-loaded pin plunger devices having movable pins that project into the tail-receiving void. The second elongate member also having at least one canopy extending from the nesting surface and over a respective electrical conductor, the canopy being configured for snap-engagement with the notch whereby the canopy holds in place the respective linear-array plural-contact tail through locking frictional engagement.

Abstract: A cortical sensing device is provided that includes a sensing element and at least one pad attached adjacent to a support member. The pad is substantially thin and made from flexibly-conformable material to accurately and safely place the sensing device upon the brain surface. Contact between the lower surface of the pad and the brain surface anchors the sensing element at a desired position against unintentional movement. The sensing device preferably has three circular pads equidistant from one another.

Abstract: A catheter system is provided having an outer catheter and at least one inner catheter chosen from a plurality of different inner catheters for delivery of a treatment agent to a selected tissue region of the brain. The outer catheter has a lumen in communication with an opening and at least one aperture. Each inner catheter is sized to be received within the lumen and has a passageway and at least one port in communication with that passageway. The system preferably has inner catheters having different lengths and/or passageways with different diameters. The outer catheter can include an element that monitors brain activity. The outer catheter can also have an inflatable balloon proximal to an element. A method of delivering a treatment agent, preferably a drug, to a select tissue region of a targeted area of the brain for intracranial treatment of a patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector for connecting a multi-contact medical electrode device with a plural-contact tail. Having a tail-receiving first elongate member with a tail-receiving void and a second elongate member. The second elongate member has a nesting surface and an array of electrical conductors which are spring-loaded pin plunger devices. The spring-loaded pin plunger devices having movable pins that project into and at least partially, preferably halfway, across and into the tail-receiving void. The device is configured such that the spring-loaded pin plunger devices extend at an angle substantially parallel to the movement of the tail-receiving void at the point the pin tips enter therein. The distal end of the second elongate member has an opening through which a multi-wire electrical cable extends. The second elongate member also has a channel in alignment with the opening that has therein the multiple wires of the electrical cable.