# US 7,608,064 B2 · Depth probe for intracranial treatment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,064 B2 - Document ID: US7608064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/736,828 - Filed: 2007-04-18 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-04-25 - Assignees: Ad-Tech Medical Instrument Corp. - Inventors: David Putz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608064B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 5/031: {Intracranial pressure} - A61B 5/24: Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof - A61B 5/1473: invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter - A61B 5/4094: {Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy} - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes} - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61M 2025/105: {having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes} - A61M 2025/1052: {for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector} - A61M 2210/0693: Brain, cerebrum - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A depth probe for intracranial treatment of a patient comprising: a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an exterior surface and an opening; a distal portion of the body at the distal end having one aperture and at least one element mounted upon the exterior surface; a lumen defined by the body with access thereto being limited to only the opening and the aperture, the lumen having an axis and being sized to receive coaxially an inner catheter for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient's brain and the aperture being coaxial with the lumen and being sized to allow the inner catheter to pass therethrough; and a proximal portion of the body at the proximal end having at least one proximal-contact radially circumscribing the body, the proximal-contact being conductively connected with the at least one element, and a tapered fitting at the proximal end, the tapered fitting being sized to be received by a tapered coupler of the inner catheter to form a liquid-tight connection with the inner catheter when the inner catheter is fully inserted into the lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the body is made from substantially rigid material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the tapered fitting is further adapted to connect to a pumping instrument for transferring a fluid with a tissue region within the patient's brain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The depth probe of claim 3 wherein the opening is at the proximal end and coaxial with the lumen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the element is a contact that provides electrical stimulation to a tissue region within the patient's brain. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the element is at least one contact that monitors activity within the patient's brain. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The depth probe of claim 6 wherein the contact monitors electrical activity within the patient's brain. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The depth probe of claim 6 wherein the at least one contact is a plurality of contacts radially circumscribing the body and spaced axially along the distal portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The depth probe of claim 6 wherein the contact is a micro-contact. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The depth probe of claim 9 wherein the at least one contact is a plurality of micro-contacts spaced axially or radially along the distal portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the element is at least one sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The depth probe of claim 11 wherein the sensor senses chemical activity within the patient's brain. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dept probe of claim 1 wherein the element is a location marker to identify the position of the distal portion when the probe is inserted into the brain. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The depth probe of claim 13 wherein the location marker is adapted to be identified by magnetic resonance imaging. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the proximal-contact is in electrical communication with a micro-contact. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion has a first diameter and the distal portion has a second diameter such that the second diameter is less than the first diameter to reduce the degree of contact with the tissue region by the body when the probe is inserted into the brain. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 wherein the at least one proximal-contact is a plurality of proximal-contacts spaced axially along the proximal portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The depth probe of claim 1 further comprising a conduit extending from the proximal portion to an inflatable balloon secured to the distal portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The depth probe of claim 18 wherein the balloon is inflatable with at least one drug and the balloon is formed from a material permeable to the drug such that the drug can be introduced into the tissue region through the balloon. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The depth probe of claim 18 wherein the balloon is adapted to seal upon inflation a tract created upon insertion of the probe into the brain. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The depth probe of claim 18 wherein the balloon is positioned along the distal portion proximal to the element.