Electricity: measuring and testing – Fault detecting in electric circuits and of electric components – Instruments and devices for fault testing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-10-09
Brown, Glenn W. (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Fault detecting in electric circuits and of electric components
Instruments and devices for fault testing
C606S130000, C606S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300773
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and a device for testing a brain lesion electrode which is intended for use in treatment of a specified area in the brain, for instance, by controlled coagulation or lessening.
More specifically, the invention relates to a system for quick-testing electrodes that are used in surgical operations in the brain, such as bipolar coagulation and lessening for neurosurgery, and impedance measurement as well as stimulation, at a controlled temperature of the electrode tip.
The brain lesion electrode can be a monopolar electrode, the other electrode or backplate electrode preferably being a metal plate which is arranged in electrically conductive contact with the patient's skin, for instance, on the patient's back. The backplate electrode or reference electrode can also be assembled with the active electrode to form a unit, i.e. a bipolar electrode or a double electrode consisting of two monopolar electrodes.
The above-mentioned electrodes are intended to be used together with a power unit with the possibility of controlling current intensity, frequency, duration of the treatment periods etc. and with monitoring and indicating functions for, inter alia, the temperature of the brain lesion electrode. An example of a suitable power unit is LEKSELL® NEURO GENERATOR, which is commercially available at Elekta Instrument AB in Sweden. A suitable device for positioning and holding the electrode when in use is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,344.
Before the brain lesion electrode is put into use, it is most important to make sure that the electrode operates in the intended fashion. Of course a built-in test system is available in the power unit, but it may be difficult to discover certain deficiencies of the electrode, such as. a defective thermocouple in the electrode or an unsatisfactory coating of the electrode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention therefore is to provide a method and a device for in-situ-testing of the function of the brain lesion electrode.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which permit a quick, safe and easy test of brain lesion electrodes.
One more object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and reliable testing device for brain lesion electrodes, which can supplement or be integrated with existing power units as described above.
According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a method, which is characterised by the following steps:
introducing in a transparent container a solution of coagulatable protein with a predetermined salt content conforming with the salt content in a patient's body;
sealing the container with a sealing means, which the brain lesion electrode can penetrate;
heating the solution to a selected temperature in the range 35-40° C.;
introducing the tip of the brain lesion electrode into the container through the sealing means;
supplying, during a selected period, current of a predetermined intensity and frequency between the electrode and a backplate electrode in the container, the temperature of the solution in the area at the tip of the electrode being raised and the solution being locally coagulated; and
evaluating the test result by visual inspection of the coagulated area.
A device for use when carrying out the inventive method is characterised in that it comprises a transparent container, which is adapted to accommodate a solution of coagulatable protein with a predetermined salt content, a sealing means which the brain lesion electrode can penetrate and which is adapted to seal the container containing the solution, a heating device for heating the solution to a selected temperature, a power unit for supplying, during a selected period, current of a predetermined intensity and frequency between the electrode and a backplate electrode in the container to increase the temperature of the solution in the area at the tip of the electrode when the electrode is introduced into the solution and positioned therein.
Further developments of the invention appear from the characteristic features stated in the sub claims.
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Eriksson Ola
Wårdell Karin
Brown Glenn W.
Elekta AB
Hamdan Wasseem H.
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
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