Stimulation probe

1. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one lead comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and

wherein the at least one protective tubing element is at least partially arranged over and/or around the proximal end of the at least one lead.

2. The probe according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective tubing element is connected and/or connectable to the advanced lead can element by a fastening mechanism.

3. The probe according to claim 2 , wherein the fastening mechanism is configured such that the at least one protective tubing element and the advanced lead can element are mechanically interlocked.

4. The probe according to claim 2 , wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the at least one protective tubing element.

5. The probe according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one protective tubing element is permanently attached or attachable to the advanced lead can element.

6. The probe according to claim 2 , wherein the fastening mechanism is configured such that the at least one protective tubing element and/or the advanced lead can element comprises at least one part of the fastening mechanism.

7. The probe according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises at least one reinforcement member.

8. The probe according to claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement member includes a helical spring or a braided mesh.

9. The probe according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises an outer layer.

10. The probe according to claim 9 , wherein the outer layer is at least partially comprised of a polymer.

11. The probe according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises an inner layer.

12. The probe according to claim 11 , wherein the inner layer is at least partially a lubricious substrate layer.

13. The probe according to claim 12 , wherein the lubricious substrate layer is comprised of HDPE, PTFE and/or PEEK.

14. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead, wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a distal end having a lower hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the at least one protective tubing element.

15. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein a distal end of the at least one protective tubing element has a durometer of less than approximately 20 Shore A.

16. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a proximal end having the same or a higher hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the at least one protective tubing element.

17. The probe according to claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the at least one protective tubing element comprises at least a part of a fastening mechanism so as to interlock the at least one protective tubing element with a proximal end of the at least one lead or the advanced lead can element.

18. A probe comprising:

at least one lead;

at least one protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the at least one lead; and

an advanced lead can element coupled to the at least one lead,

wherein the at least one protective tubing element comprises a length varying member configured to vary a length of the at least one protective tubing element.

19. The probe according to claim 18 , wherein the length varying member includes two or more telescopic reinforced tubes of progressively smaller diameters which are nested within each other.

20. The probe according to claim 1 , wherein the advanced lead can element includes a switch matrix for deep brain stimulation electronics.

21. A neurostimulation and/or neurorecording system, comprising at least one probe according to claim 1 .

22. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead,

wherein the proximal end of the protective tubing element is connected and/or connectable to the advanced lead can element by a fastening mechanism.

23. The protective tubing element according to claim 22 , wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the protective tubing element.

24. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the protective tubing element is permanently attached or attachable to the advanced lead can element.

25. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

at least one reinforcement member.

26. The protective tubing element according to claim 25 , wherein the reinforcement member includes a helical spring or a braided mesh.

27. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

an outer layer.

28. The protective tubing element according to claim 27 , wherein the outer layer is at least partially comprised of a polymer.

29. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and

an inner layer.

30. The protective tubing element according to claim 29 , wherein the inner layer is at least partially a lubricious substrate layer.

31. The protective tubing element according to claim 30 , wherein the lubricious substrate layer is comprised of HDPE, PTFE and/or PEEK.

32. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the distal end has a lower hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the protective tubing element.

33. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the distal end has a durometer of less than approximately 20 Shore A.

34. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead, wherein the proximal end has the same or a higher hardness than the hardness of at least another part of the protective tubing element.

35. The protective tubing element according to claim 34 , wherein the proximal end of the protective tubing element comprises at least a part of a fastening mechanism so as to interlock the protective tubing element with the proximal end of the lead or the advanced lead can element.

36. A protective tubing element for a probe having a lead coupled to an advanced lead can element, the protective tubing element comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end at least partially arranged over and/or around a proximal end of the lead; and further comprising

a length varying member configured to vary a length of the protective tubing element.

37. The protective tubing element according to claim 36 , wherein the length varying member includes two or more telescopic reinforced tubes of progressively smaller diameters which are nested within each other.

38. An advanced lead can element for a probe having a lead comprising:

a fastening mechanism configured to fasten to a protective tubing element at least partially arranged over and/or around the lead.

39. The advanced lead can element according to claim 38 , wherein the fastening mechanism has a mechanical locking fit to lock in place the protective tubing element.

40. The advanced lead can element according to claim 38 further comprising:

a switch matrix for deep brain stimulation electronics.