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

1. A system for brain stimulations comprising

an electrode lead configured and arranged for insertion into a brain of a patient, the electrode lead comprising a plurality of stimulating electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the stimulating electrodes are disposed on multiple sides of the electrode lead and individually have a non-ring shape; 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 and to receive the electrode lead, and a plurality of cannula electrodes disposed on the cannula body.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the stimulation electrodes are disposed in a plurality of rings around a circumference of the electrode lead.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the stimulation electrodes in each of the plurality of rings are disposed in regular intervals around the circumference of the electrode lead.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the rings are spaced apart from each other at different lateral distances from a tip of the electrode lead.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the stimulation electrodes in each of the plurality of rings are at 120° intervals around the circumference of the electrode lead.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the cannula electrodes are disposed in a plurality of rings around a circumference of the cannula body.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the rings of cannula electrodes are longitudinally separated from each other and each of the plurality of rings of cannula electrodes comprises at least two of the plurality of cannula electrodes.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-ring shape is a square or a rectangle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-ring shape is a circle or an oval.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising markings on the cannula and electrode lead to facilitate alignment of the electrode lead with the cannula.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode lead is substantially less rigid than the cannula.

12. A method of stimulating a portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising:

providing the system of claim 1 ;

inserting the cannula into the brain of the patient;

using at least one of the plurality of cannula electrodes to find tissue to be stimulated, repositioning the cannula as needed to find the tissue to be stimulated;

inserting the electrode lead into the cannula;

removing the cannula from the brain leaving the electrode lead in place; and

stimulating the tissue using at least one of the stimulating electrodes.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the electrode lead into the cannula comprises aligning a one of the stimulating electrodes with a one of the cannula electrodes of the cannula that is adjacent the tissue found for stimulation.

14. A system for brain stimulation, comprising

an electrode lead configured and arranged for insertion into a brain of a patient, the electrode lead comprising a plurality of stimulating electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the stimulating electrodes are disposed in a helical arrangement around the electrode lead and individually have a non-ring shape; 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 die brain, the cannula comprising a cannula body configured and arranged for insertion into the brain and to receive the electrode lead, and a plurality of cannula electrodes disposed on the cannula body.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the non-ring shape is a square or a rectangle.

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

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electrode lead is substantially less rigid than the cannula.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the cannula electrodes are disposed in a helical arrangement around the cannula body.

19. A method of stimulating a portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising:

providing the system of claim 14 ;

inserting the cannula into the brain of the patient;

using at least one of the plurality of cannula electrodes to find tissue to be stimulated, repositioning the cannula as needed to find the tissue to be stimulated;

inserting the electrode lead into the cannula;

removing the cannula from the brain leaving the electrode lead in place; and

stimulating the tissue using at least one of the stimulating electrodes.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein inserting the electrode lead into the cannula comprises aligning a one of the stimulating electrodes with a one of the cannula electrodes of the cannula that is adjacent the tissue found for stimulation.