Patents Assigned to CORTEC GmbH
  • Patent number: 11647960
    Abstract: A flexible neural electrode array is provided, comprising a layer of metal which is arranged on a first layer of polymeric material and which forms a number of contact pads. The first layer of polymeric material is flexible along a predefined direction, each contact pad of the number of contact pads having a sequence of cuts through the metal, each cut extending in a straight line across the predefined direction. Each cut has an inner end and an outer end, the inner end being within the contact pad, the outer end being at an edge of the contact pad, and each second cut of the sequence of cuts having its outer end at the same edge of the contact pad. A method is further provided for fabricating a flexible neural electrode array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: CorTec GmbH, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
    Inventors: Martin Schuettler, Juan Sebastian Ordonez, Tom Colin Bierbrauer
  • Patent number: 11298531
    Abstract: An elastic neural electrode is provided, having at least one planar metal layer which comprises conductive material and which is placed on an elastomer layer (PDMS), wherein, for reinforcement of the electrode, a high-tensile-strength polymer layer, in particular parylene layer is applied directly onto the at least one metal layer, the high-tensile-strength polymer layer, in particular parylene layer being the outermost layer of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Henle, Martin Schuettler, Fabian Kohler, Miguel Ulloa, Juan Sebastian Ordonez, Matthias Mueller
  • Patent number: 11170001
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing data streams is provided, the method comprising the following steps: receiving a number of data streams, at least one data stream thereof being representative of at least one physiologic signal of a patient sensed by a predetermined sensor device, and receiving at least one time stamp information, each time stamp information being associated with a respective data stream, the time stamp information being representative of the point in time of associating the time stamp information with the respective data stream, and associating a respective time shift information with each time stamp information, the time shift information being representative of a delay between a point in time of sensing the at least one signal by the predetermined sensor device and the point in time of associating the time stamp information with the data stream representative of the at least one signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Rickert, Christian Stolle, Jörg Sebastian Fischer, Martin Schüttler
  • Patent number: 11040193
    Abstract: An implantable nerve electrode is provided that comprises an electrically insulating substrate with conductor traces running therein, electrode contacts and connection contacts, wherein the conductor traces connect the electrode contacts to the connection contacts, and wherein the electrode contacts can be connected to the nerves of a nervous system, each of the conductor traces having an at least partial sheathing made of a polymer that is mechanically strong and a good insulator. Also provided is a method for producing an implantable nerve electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Fabian Köhler
  • Patent number: 10912209
    Abstract: Disclosed are a housing for a medical implant, a medical implant for a human or animal organism, a method for manufacturing a medical implant, and a system comprising a medical implant and a transceiver unit that can be coupled to the medical implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Rickert, Fabian Kohler, Martin Schüttler
  • Patent number: 10898092
    Abstract: An implantable cuff electrode having a flexible cuff in form of a tube having a longitudinal slot, wherein the longitudinal slot defines a first edge and a second edge on the cuff, wherein a first lip is arranged at the first edge of the longitudinal slot, and a second lip is arranged at the second edge of the longitudinal slot, and wherein the longitudinal slot can be sealed by the first lip and the second lip in that the first lip and the second lip extend at least partially on the cuff jacket of the cuff one lying on top of the other, and the second lip holds the first lip in position by means of a surface pressure onto the cuff jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Juan Sebastian Ordonez, Jörn Rickert, Thomas Stieglitz
  • Patent number: 10463265
    Abstract: An implantable electrode array is provided, the electrode array comprising a substrate, the substrate having a front side and a back side, and a first number of first electrodes. The first electrodes are formed as contact pads, and are arranged on the front side. The substrate comprises a second number of prefabricated holes at predetermined positions, the holes extending from the front side through the substrate towards the back side, and being arranged such the holes may be penetrated by elongated electrodes placed at the predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Tom Colin Bierbrauer, Joern Rickert, Christian Henle, Martin J. Bak, Nuri Firat Ince
  • Patent number: 10251286
    Abstract: Disclosed are a housing for a medical implant, a medical implant for a human or animal organism, a method for manufacturing a medical implant, and a system comprising a medical implant and a transceiver unit that can be coupled to the medical implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Rickert, Fabian Kohler, Martin Schüttler
  • Patent number: 10218111
    Abstract: An implantable plug connector is provided, an inner portion of which has a number of contact surfaces which are embedded in a surface of a first substrate. An outer portion of the implantable plug connector has a number of contact surfaces embedded in at least one surface of a second substrate. The outer portion defines a space, in which the inner portion can be received in a mounting state, where, in a pre-mounting state, the contact surfaces are set back with respect to the surface of the respective substrate, and where, in a mounting state, the inner portion is pressed against the outer portion such that mutually corresponding contact surfaces come into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CORTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Julia Koch, Juan Sebastian Ordonez, Jörn Rickert
  • Patent number: 10172560
    Abstract: Sensor means for detection of bioelectrical signals, in particular, for implantation into or onto a brain wherein the sensor means comprises a first number of electrodes which can be coupled to a biological organism, in particular, to neural cells of a nervous system for tapping a first plurality of electrical potentials at the biological organism. According to the invention, the sensor means comprises means for providing an averaged electrical reference potential. The averaged electrical reference potential is formed from a plurality of detected electrical potential that are tapped at the biological organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Jörn Rickert, Christian Henle, Tonio Ball, Markus Raab
  • Patent number: 10022537
    Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable nerve electrode (1) that comprises an electrically insulating substrate (2) with conductor traces (3) running therein, electrode contacts (4) and connection contacts (5), wherein the conductor traces (3) connect the electrode contacts (4) to the connection contacts (5), and wherein the electrode contacts (4) can be connected to the nerves of a nervous system, each of the conductor traces (3) having an at least partial sheathing (13) made of a polymer that is mechanically strong and a good insulator. The invention further relates to a method for producing an implantable nerve electrode (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Fabian Kohler
  • Patent number: 9436910
    Abstract: There is provided a method for reconstructing intended activities from a first representation of neural signals which is indicative of an intended activity to a second representation, wherein for second representations, a degree of agreement between the first representation and each second representation from a plurality of predetermined second representations that are indicative of intended activities is determined on the basis of a predetermined agreement criterion, and a second representation of neural signals is selected from the plurality of second representations on the basis of the degree of agreement, which selected second representation is the reconstructed intended activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cortec GmbH
    Inventor: Jörn Rickert
  • Patent number: 9174038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a neural electrode. It relates in particular to such an electrode which is able to withstand high mechanical forces, and to a method of fabrication of the same. The invention discloses an elastic neural electrode, having at least one planar metal layer which comprises conductive material and which is bilaterally covered by an protective elastomer layer, wherein, for reinforcement of the electrode, an additional reinforcement layer comprising reinforcement material is present between the outermost protective elastomer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cortec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Schüttler, Christopher W.D. Dodds, Gregg J. Suaning
  • Publication number: 20140128954
    Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable nerve electrode (1) that comprises an electrically insulating substrate (2) with conductor traces (3) running therein, electrode contacts (4) and connection contacts (5), wherein the conductor traces (3) connect the electrode contacts (4) to the connection contacts (5), and wherein the electrode contacts (4) can be connected to the nerves of a nervous system, each of the conductor traces (3) having an at least partial sheathing (13) made of a polymer that is mechanically strong and a good insulator. The invention further relates to a method for producing an implantable nerve electrode (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin SCHÜTTLER, Fabian KOHLER
  • Publication number: 20140046417
    Abstract: The invention relates to a neural electrode. It relates in particular to such an electrode which is able to withstand high mechanical forces, and to a method of fabrication of the same. The invention discloses an elastic neural electrode, having at least one planar metal layer which comprises conductive material and which is bi-laterally covered by an protective elastomer layer, wherein, for reinforcement of the electrode, an additional reinforcement layer comprising reinforcement material is present between the outermost protective elastomer layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin SCHÜTTLER, Christopher W.D. DODDS, Gregg J. SUANING
  • Patent number: 8509904
    Abstract: A BCI apparatus (10) for supporting the rehabilitation of stroke patients (12) with motor impairments is provided, comprising a probe (18) for recording a neuronal activity signal, an evaluation unit (24) for analysis of the activity signal, and an effector (18, 22, 26, 28) which is controlled by the evaluation unit (24) in dependence of a detected motion, wherein a session control unit (24) is configured to output a request to the patient (12) to generate a desired activity pattern, to at the same time record the activity using the probe (18), and to give the patient (12) a feedback via the effector whenever the desired activity pattern is identified by the evaluation unit (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cortec GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Rickert, Jörg Fischer
  • Patent number: 8433663
    Abstract: Method and device for computer-aided prediction of intended movements from neuronal signals of a brain, wherein the neuronal signals are each associated in the brain with intended movements, wherein neuronal signals are recorded and the most probable movements are determined from these, specifically using a predetermined model in which a recorded neuronal signal and a determined movement are assigned to each other, and, for the probability with which a recorded neuronal signal corresponds to a respective predetermined movement, a predetermined distribution is assumed that is defined by specific characteristic values, wherein an adaptation of the neuronal signal is included in the predetermined model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: CorTec GmbH
    Inventors: Jörn Rickert, Carsten Mehring, Julie Blumberg, Daniel Braun, Tomislav Milekovic, Jörg Fischer
  • Patent number: 8367961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ground peg (10) which is made from a steel tube (11) and comprises an upper cylindrical section (12), a lower section (16) that tapers towards the bottom to form a tip (14), and an external thread (26) that extends along at least part of the lower section (16) and is formed from a continuous sheet metal strip (28) welded onto an external surface (32) of the ground peg (10) by means of a continuous or regularly interrupted fillet weld (34). The external thread (26) has a nearly constant pitch (S) and slope (a) relative to a longitudinal axis (40) of the ground peg (10) along the entire length of the external thread (26). The invention further relates to a method or producing such a ground peg (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: CORTEC GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Rainer
  • Publication number: 20110127313
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ground peg (10) which is made from a steel tube (11) and comprises an upper cylindrical section (12), a lower section (16) that tapers towards the bottom to form a tip (14), and an external thread (26) that extends along at least part of the lower section (16) and is formed from a continuous sheet metal strip (28) welded onto an external surface (32) of the ground peg (10) by means of a continuous or regularly interrupted fillet weld (34). The external thread (26) has a nearly constant pitch (S) and slope (a) relative to a longitudinal axis (40) of the ground peg (10) along the entire length of the external thread (26). The invention further relates to a method or producing such a ground peg (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: CORTEC GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Rainer