Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting plural multi-contact linear arrays with an electrical system, including: a base portion having a base member and an alignment member on the base member configured to hold the multi-contact linear arrays in place; an interconnect portion configured to mate with the base portion and having (1) a plurality of pins mounted thereto, each pin positioned for contact with a respective contact of the multi-contact linear arrays, and (2) an interconnect array having a plurality of conductive pathways to the electrical system; and one or more closure elements for holding the base and interconnect portions together, wherein each of the contacts of the multi-contact linear arrays is electrically connected to a corresponding point in circuits within the electrical system.

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 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 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.

Abstract: A cortical electrode support assembly is provided having at least one cortical sensing device, preferably an electrode device, a connector and a support apparatus. The cortical sensing device includes at least one sensing element, preferably a contact, and a lead with a connection member that is preferably a socket extending from the contact. The connector has a connecting element that is preferably a connecting pin adapted to receive the connection member and a electrical conduit extending from it. The support apparatus is provided with an adjustable clamp and a mount that has the connector secured to it. The electrical conduit preferably has an input jack for connecting it to an external device such as an external monitoring device. Preferably, the support apparatus also includes a post on which the mount is slidably secured at one end and the clamp is adjustably attached to the other end. A method of monitoring brain activity during brain surgery is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector for multi-contact medical electrodes with plural-contact tails, including a tail-receiving member having a tail-receiving void defining an internal surface and an array of electrical conductors, preferably spring-loaded ball plungers, positioned along the internal surface. A locking mechanism is positioned within the tail-receiving member and can be moved from an open position in which a tail received within the void can be removed from the void, to a locked position in which the locking mechanism prevents removal of the tail. Some preferred embodiments include the locking mechanism being positioned adjacent the void opposite the conductors and extending into the void when in the locked position; the locking mechanism being a cam shaft and cam arrangement which allows for locking by rotation of the cam shaft; and the plural contacts being sleeves with necked-in ends to allow non-destructive withdrawal of the tail in the unlocked position.

Abstract: An electrical connector for multi-contact medical electrodes with plural-contact tails, including a first elongate member having a first face and an array of electrical conductors, preferably spring-loaded ball plungers, positioned therealong and a second elongate member extending along the first elongate member and having a tail-receiving void, a second face parallel to the void with access openings to expose the plural tail contacts, the second elongate member being pivotable, between open and closed positions with respect to the first elongate member. Pivoting is about an axis along the lengths of the elongate members. The closed position serves to place the plural contacts of a tail into engagement with the electrical conductors.

Abstract: The improved subdural electrode for determining epileptogenic foci is of the type having two dielectric layers. The electrode includes at least one electrical lead wire having a portion of its length interposed between the dielectric layers. At least one electrode disk is interposed between the layers and has a tab formed thereon. Connection of the tab and the lead wire is by folding the outer segment of the tab toward its inward segment to crimp the wire between them. An electrically conductive circuit between the wire and the tab is thereby created. The electrical and mechanical integrity of the connection is improved by wrapping the wire about the tab several times before crimping. The connection is also improved by positioning the wrapped wire, prior to final crimping, adjacent the fold defined between the outer and inward segments.

Abstract: An improved intracranial diagnostic electrode for use with magnetic resonance imaging techniques includes an electrode body and at least one metallic contact supported by the body. An electrical lead wire is attached to the contact for connecting the contact to a diagnostic instrument. At least the metallic contact is made of an alloy which includes nickel and chromium and is substantially devoid of iron. The electrode thereby provides substantially clear images of the location of each metallic contact when the electrode is used in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging techniques. The electrode may also include radiopaque elements or markers to adapt the electrode for use with x-ray as well as magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Several embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved electrical brain-contact device for increased accuracy in determining epileptogenic foci. The intracranial device has a dielectric base member and an array of contacts mounted thereon with separate leads extending therefrom, and is characterized by radiopaque dielectric means adjacent to at least one of the contacts such that the positions of the contacts of the array may more readily be determined by x-ray. Certain preferred forms have discrete radiopaque dielectric markers in various arrangements, including sub-arrays of markers corresponding in number and positions to subsets of the contacts.

Abstract: A brain-contact device (19,12,13) having a multi-electrode tissue-engagement member (14,16), lead wires (32) extending to a terminal mount (36) with an array of lead-wire terminals (38) on it, and a connector (46,46a) including a base (48,48a) with a matching array of take-up terminals (70,70a), a movable yoke (50,50a) forming with the base a terminal-mount space (62,62a), and a device (52,52a) to hold the yoke and base together with the arrays in contact.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for insertion of a sphenoidal wire electrode. The apparatus includes a needle (22) carrying a wire (24) having a turned-back distal portion (34) beside the needle and terminating forwardly along the slant-tip (28). The method includes positioning the wire in the needle with such turned-back distal portion as described, inserting the needle and wire, engaging the tissue with the turned-back portion to resist unintended relocation during needle withdrawal and the subsequent test period, and unfolding the turned-back portion of the wire to straighten it by initial pulling of the wire after the test period.