# US 2014/0194944 A1 · Implantable Device for Acquisition and Monitoring of Brain Bioelectric Signals and for Intracranial Stimulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194944 A1 - Document ID: US20140194944A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/111,172 - Filed: 2012-04-17 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-21 - Assignees: Medica Corporation - Inventors: Pantaleo Romanelli; Fabio Sebastiano; Antonino Paris; Stefano Marchetti; Paolo Cristiani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194944A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/36064: {Epilepsy} - A61B 5/0031: {Implanted circuitry} - A61B 5/37: Intracranial electroencephalography [IC-EEG], e.g. electrocorticography [ECoG] - A61B 5/6868: {Brain} - A61N 1/0476: {Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)} - A61N 1/0529: {Electrodes for brain stimulation} - A61N 1/0531: {Brain cortex electrodes} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An implantable device for the acquisition and monitoring of brain bioelectric signals is described. The implantable device has a plurality of active electrodes configured to detect brain bioelectric signals, the active electrodes being arranged on a grid connected to an electronic module of the implantable device according to a predefined pattern. The active electrodes are connected to a microprocessor of the electronic module through respective paths formed on the grid and connected to at least one analog input unit arranged in the electronic module, the at least one analog input unit being in turn connected to at least one passive electrode and to the microprocessor through a data bus. The at least one analog input unit has an analog-to-digital converter for each active electrode connected thereto. A data acquisition and processing system, which includes the implantable device is also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable device (150) for the acquisition and monitoring of brain bioelectric signals, said implantable device (150) comprising a plurality of active electrodes (1100) suitable to detect brain bioelectric signals, said active electrodes (1100) being arranged on a grid (1000) connected to an electronic module (200) of the implantable device (150), wherein the active electrodes (1100) are connected to a microprocessor (213) of said electronic module (200) through respective paths (115) different from each other, formed on said grid (1000) and connected to at least one analog input unit (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208) arranged in the electronic module (200), said at least one analog input unit being in turn connected to at least one passive electrode (REF1, REF2, REF3, REF4, REFS, REF6, REF7, REF8) and to said microprocessor (213) through a data bus (214), and wherein the at least one analog input unit (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208) comprises an analog-to-digital converter for each active electrode (1100) connected thereto, said analog-to-digital converter being configured to generate digital replicas of the analog signals received from the active electrodes (1100) and said microprocessor (213) being configured to simultaneously read the outputs of the analog-to-digital converters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the grid (1000) is made of a flexible printed circuit (900) and wherein the electronic module (200) comprises a rigid printed circuit board (901), said flexible printed circuit (900) being fixed and electrically connected to said rigid printed circuit board (901). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) An implantable device (150) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible printed circuit (900) is made of polyimide and is provided with a coating of biocompatible and non-stick material, said biocompatible and non-stick material being a polymer of the family of poly(para-xylylene). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An implantable device (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the active electrodes (1100) are provided with a rough contact surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4) An implantable device (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a transceiver (215) and an antenna (216) that are associated with the electronic module (200) and suitable to allow wireless transmission of data related to the bioelectric signals acquired by the active electrodes (1100), said antenna (216) being connected to said transceiver (215) which is in turn connected to the microprocessor (213). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) An implantable device (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a rechargeable battery (219) suitable for supplying the electronic module (200), as well as a winding (225) suitable for converting picked up electromagnetic waves into an electric voltage, said winding (225) being configured to allow the charging of said rechargeable battery (219). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An implantable device (150) according to claim 6, further comprising a locating system suited to allow detection of the magnetic transducer (225) in an operative condition of the implantable device (150), said locating system comprising an LED (221) associated to the magnetic transducer (225). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An implantable device (150) according to claim 7, wherein said LED (221) is arranged at the center of the magnetic transducer (225) and is an infrared-type LED. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) An implantable device (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising at least one digital-to-analog converter arranged within the microprocessor (213) and configured to generate electrical pulses having predetermined waveform and voltage on one or more pairs of electrodes comprising active electrodes (1100) and/or passive electrodes (REF1, REF2, REF3, REF4, REFS, REF6, REF7, REF8). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An implantable device (150) according to claim 9, further comprising an amplifier (224) connected to the microprocessor (213) and arranged in the electronic module (200), said amplifier (224) being configured to amplify the electrical pulses generated by said at least one digital-to-analog converter, and at least one switch (209, 210, 211, 212) connected to a plurality of pairs of active electrodes (1100) and/or passive electrodes (REF1, REF2, REF3, REF4, REFS, REF6, REF7, REF8). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An implantable device (150) according to claim 10, further comprising a data bus (232) suitable to connect the microprocessor (213) to the at least one switch (209, 210, 211, 212) for the selection of the pair or pairs of active electrodes (1100) and/or passive electrodes (REF1, REF2, REF3, REF4, REFS, REF6, REF7, REF8) to which the electrical pulses generated by the at least one digital-to-analog converter must be sent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) A data acquisition and processing system comprising an implantable device (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 11. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A data acquisition and processing system according to claim 12, further comprising a radio base station (600), said radio base station (600) being provided with an antenna (610) suitable for wireless reception of data relating to the brain bioelectric signals transmitted from the antenna (216) of the implantable device (150). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A data acquisition and processing system according to claim 13, wherein the radio base station (600) further comprises a winding (219) configured to generate electromagnetic waves suitable to allow recharging of the rechargeable battery (219) of the implantable device (150). ### Claim 15 (depends on 12, 13, 14) A data acquisition and processing system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a portable device (400), said portable device (400) being provided with an antenna (410) suitable for wireless reception and storage of data transmitted by the antenna (216) of the implantable device (150).