Sensing or Stimulating Activity of Tissue

Abstract

An intravascular device for placement within an animal vessel, the intravascular device being adapted to at least one of sense and stimulate activity of neural tissue located outside the vessel proximate the intravascular device.

1 . A system for at least one of sensing and stimulating activity of neural tissue comprising an intravascular device for placement within an animal vessel, the intravascular device being adapted to at least one of sense and stimulate activity of neutral tissue located outside the vessel proximate the intravascular device. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the intravascular device comprises an electrode for at least one of sensing and stimulating activity of neural tissue located outside the vessel proximate the electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , comprising a retaining member for retaining the intravascular device at a region within the vessel proximate the neural tissue to be at least one of sensed and stimulated. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member is adapted for expansion within the vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member is adapted for deposition and gradual decomposition within the body. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member is adapted for long term deposition in the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . They system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member is adapted to be deployed at a region within the vessel, retrieved, and then redeployed at a different region within the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member comprises a stent. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 3  wherein the retaining member comprises a probe. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein the probe comprises an elongate flexible micro-tube. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9  wherein the intravascular device is mounted on the probe and the probe is adapted to conduct electrical signals to or from the intravascular device. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein system comprises a processor for processing signals transmitted to or from the intravascular device. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein system comprises a wireless transmission system for wirelessly transmitting at least one of data and energy to or from the intravascular device. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein the wireless transmission system comprises at least one of a magnetic induction coil and an RF transmitter/receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises an alert system adapted for signalling an alert when the sensed activity of neural tissue falls outside of a predetermined parameter. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the alert comprises a warning signal which is activated when sensed activity indicates possible imminent onset of seizure in the animal. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a guide member adapted to be passed into and through the animal vessel, the guide member being adapted for guiding the intravascular device to a region within the vessel proximate the neural tissue to be at least one of sensed and stimulated. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17  wherein the guide member is adapted for passage of the intravascular device therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a device located separately to the intravascular device, the device being adapted for at least one of storage, processing and transmission of data or energy to or from the intravascular device. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the device comprises a wireless transmission mechanism for transmitting at least one of data and energy between the intravascular device and the device, or between two devices. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the device comprises an internal unit adapted for intravascular deposition. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the device comprises an internal unit adapted for subcutaneous deposit. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the device comprises an external unit adapted for placement on or outside the body. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the device comprises a prosthetic limb. 
     
     
         25 . The system according  claim 1  comprising multiple intravascular devices adapted to be retained at various regions in one or more animal vessels, thereby enabling at least one of sensing and stimulating electrical activity of neural tissue at various regions proximate the intravascular devices. 
     
     
         26 . A method for sensing of stimulating electrical activity of neural tissue from within an animal vessel comprising using an intravascular device to at least one of sense and stimulate the electrical activity of the neural tissue from within an animal vessel proximate the neural tissue. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising guiding the intravascular device to a region within the vessel proximate the neural tissue to be sensed or stimulated. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising retaining the intravascular device against the inner wall of the vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising expanding a retaining member within the vessel in order to retain the intravascular device against the inner vessel wall. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising producing an intravascular electroencephalographic signal based on sensed activity of the neural tissue. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising wirelessly transmitting data or energy between the intravascular device and a separate device adapted for storing, processing, or transmitting signals to or from the device. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising sensing or stimulating electrical activity of multiple regions of neural tissue from multiple intravascular devices deposited within various regions of one or more vessels. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising retaining or depositing the intravascular device within an animal vessel proximate a deep brain region, and intravascularly sensing or stimulating electrical activity of the deep brain region. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising intravascularly stimulating neural tissue for treatment of medical disorders including Parkinson's Disease, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or Tourette's Syndrome. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising mapping properties of neural tissue on the basis of signals sensed by the intravascular device when situated proximate the neural tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising transmitting signals from an internal or external device to the intravascular device in order to cause stimulation of neural tissue proximate the intravascular device. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising transmitting signals based on electrical activity sensed by the intravascular device to an internal or external device in order to cause operation of the internal or external device. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 26  transmitting signals based on electrical activity sensed by the intravascular device to a prosthetic limb in order to cause movement thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein the intravascular device is retained or deposited in the second or third branches of the middle cerebral artery where they track in or along the post central gyrus of the brain. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising detecting epileptic seizures or seizure focal points by monitoring sensed electrical activity. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising retaining or depositing the intravascular device in a vessel traversing part of the hippocampus in order to detect threat of imminent seizure. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising sensing changes in electrical activity in the pre central gyrus resulting from attempted movement of natural, absent, or artificial body parts. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 26  causing movement of a natural or artificial body part by intravascularly stimulating the pre central gyrus. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 26  comprising placing an external unit over a region of the body proximate the intravascular device, or over a region of the body proximate an internal device linked to the intravascular device, in order to facilitate wireless transmission between the external device and the intravascular device, or between the external device and the internal device.