Preventing Breakage of Electrodes Placed in the Brain to Treat Movement Disorders and Compulsive Disorders

SLU ID 11-033 | Burr Hole Electrode Clamp

Background

An increasingly common medical procedure to treat movement disorders or to alter compulsive behavior consists of placing electrodes into the brain, which are stimulated to produce therapeutic effects. One issue with such techniques is that acute bending of the electrodes at the skull edge leave them prone to breakage thus rendering them useless and necessitating the repeat of the procedure.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed a burr hole clamp that addresses the shortcomings of current techniques for implanting electrodes into the brain.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Minimizing the risk of electrode breakage

• Minimizing the need to repeat delicate medical procedures

• Minimizing scalp deformation

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include:

• medical procedures involving the implantation of electrodes into the skull

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking a partner to further develop and commercialize this technology.