Devices with cannula and electrode lead for brain stimulation and methods of use and manufacture

1. A cannula for insertion of an electrode lead to stimulate brain tissue, the cannula comprising:

a cannula body configured and arranged for insertion into the brain tissue and to receive the electrode lead; and

a plurality of cannula electrodes disposed on the cannula body, wherein at least a portion of the cannula electrodes are disposed in a plurality of rings around the circumference of the cannula body, wherein the rings are longitudinally separated from each other and each of the plurality of rings comprises at least two of the plurality of cannula electrodes.

2. The cannula of claim 1 , wherein the cannula electrodes in each of the plurality of rings are disposed in regular intervals around a circumference of the cannula body.

3. The cannula of claim 1 , further comprising conductors disposed in the cannula body and coupled to the plurality of cannula electrodes and extending out of a distal end of the cannula for connection to a controller.

4. The cannula of claim 1 , wherein the rings of electrodes are spaced apart from each other at different lateral distances from a tip of the cannula body.

5. The cannula of claim 1 , wherein the cannula further comprises a wall and at least one conductor coupled to the plurality of cannula electrodes, wherein the at least one conductor is disposed in, and passes through, material forming the wall of the cannula.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more markings on the cannula to facilitate alignment of an electrode lead with the cannula.

7. A system for brain stimulation, comprising

an electrode lead configured and arranged for insertion into a brain of a patient, the electrode lead comprising at least one stimulating electrode; and

a cannula configured and arranged to receive the electrode lead and to aid in insertion of a portion of the electrode lead into the brain through the cannula followed by removal of the cannula leaving the portion of the electrode lead in the brain, the cannula comprising a cannula body configured and arranged for insertion into the brain tissue and to receive the electrode lead, and a plurality of cannula electrodes disposed on the cannula body, wherein at least a portion of the cannula electrodes are disposed in a plurality of rings around the circumference of the cannula body and the electrodes are configured and arranged to aid in finding tissue to be stimulated, wherein the rings are longitudinally separated from each other and each of the plurality of rings comprises at least two of the plurality of cannula electrodes.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cannula electrodes in each of the plurality of rings are disposed in regular intervals around a circumference of the cannula body.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising conductors disposed in the cannula body and coupled to the plurality of cannula electrodes and extending out of a distal end of the cannula for connection to a controller.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the rings of electrodes are spaced apart from each other at different lateral distances from a tip of the cannula body.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cannula further comprises a wall and at least one conductor coupled to the plurality of cannula electrodes, wherein the at least one conductor is disposed in, and passes through, material forming the wall of the cannula.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the at least one stimulating electrode of the electrode lead is not ring-shaped.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one stimulating electrode of the electrode lead is a plurality of stimulating electrodes.

14. The system of claim 7 , further comprising markings on the cannula and electrode lead to facilitate alignment of the electrode lead with the cannula.

15. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electrode lead is substantially less rigid than the cannula.

16. A system for brain stimulation, comprising

an electrode lead configured and arranged for insertion into a brain of a patient, the electrode lead comprising at least one stimulating electrode; and

a cannula configured and arranged to receive the electrode lead and to aid in insertion of a portion of the electrode lead into the brain through the cannula followed by removal of the cannula leaving the portion of the electrode lead in the brain, the cannula comprising a cannula body configured and arranged for insertion into the brain tissue and to receive the electrode lead, and a plurality of cannula electrodes disposed on the cannula body, wherein the plurality of cannula electrodes are disposed in a helical arrangement around the cannula body and the electrodes are configured and arranged to aid in finding tissue to be stimulated.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the electrode lead is substantially less rigid than the cannula.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the at least one stimulating electrode of the electrode lead is not ring-shaped.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one stimulating electrode of the electrode lead is a plurality of stimulating electrodes.

20. The system of claim 16 , further comprising markings on the cannula and electrode lead to facilitate alignment of the electrode lead with the cannula.