Patent ID: 11957899
Assignee: BROWN UNIVERSITY
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 17:
18. A kit for the placement of DBS electrodes into an opening in a patient's skull, comprising:
a catheter including a guide tube, the guide tube having a longitudinal axis and at least three guide elements extending along the longitudinal axis;
each of the guide elements including a first end, a second end, a plurality of rotatably-connected segments extending between the first and second ends, and joints connecting adjacent ones of the segments;
the guide elements being configured to releasably fit together and collectively form a continuous lumen through the catheter, the lumen extending along the longitudinal axis of the guide tube and being dimensioned to receive a DBS electrode therein;
the catheter being moveable between a first, united cylindrical configuration with each one of the guide elements of the guide tube being fully interconnected to the others of the guide elements, and a second, separated configuration with the guide elements being at least partially disengaged from each other;

an annulus including a circumferential rim defining an interior circular space that is dimensioned to receive the catheter therethrough and a number of legs engaging the rim and extending outwardly therefrom, the annulus being configured to be secured in the skull opening;
a track mechanism connected to the annulus, the track mechanism including at least one toothed gear, and teeth protruding from each of the rotatably-connected segments of the guide elements and configured to operably engage teeth of the at least one toothed gear, whereby the annulus and catheter are operably coupled to each other; and
a stylet that is configured to urge the guide elements in a distal direction for facilitating insertion of the catheter into the skull opening.