Apparatus and method for coupling therapeutic and/or monitoring equipment to a patient
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and/or recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry a first coupler, wherein the first coupler is movable relative to the first coupler portion between a first carried position with the first coupler carried by the first coupler portion and a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position the second coupler portion being configured to removably carry a second coupler, wherein the second coupler is movable relative to the second coupler portion between a second carried position with the second coupler carried by the second coupler portion and a second coupled position with the second coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the second coupling position, the support member being spaced apart from the first and second coupling positions when resting on the body of the recipient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for supporting couplers for therapy administration and/or monitoring. The apparatus can include a support member configured to rest on a body of a recipient proximate to a coupling area. The support member can include a first coupler location configured to removably carry a first coupler proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient. A second coupler location of the support member is configured to removably carry a second coupler proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient. The first and second coupler locations can be arranged to guide the practitioner to connect the couplers properly to the body. For example, the first coupler location can be positioned closer than the second coupler location to the first coupling position. Accordingly, practitioners can be more likely to connect the first and second couplers to the correct coupling position on the body of the recipient.
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Citations
133 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and/or recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry a first coupler, wherein the first coupler is movable relative to the first coupler portion between a first carried position with the first coupler carried by the first coupler portion and a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position the second coupler portion being configured to removably carry a second coupler, wherein the second coupler is movable relative to the second coupler portion between a second carried position with the second coupler carried by the second coupler portion and a second coupled position with the second coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the second coupling position, the support member being spaced apart from the first and second coupling positions when resting on the body of the recipient.
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4. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a first coupler having an electrical contact configured to be connected to a percutaneous electrical probe inserted into the recipient;
a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient and a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry the first coupler, the second coupler portion being configured to removably carry a second coupler, the support member being spaced apart from the first and second coupling positions when resting on the body of the recipient; and
a flexible cable connected between the first coupler and the support member, the cable remaining connected between the first coupler and the support member when the first coupler is moved from a first carried position with the first coupler carried by the first coupler portion to a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 24, 131, 132, 133)
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- 9. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member being elongated along a support member axis and having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient when the support member rests on the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient when the support member rests on the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry a first coupler, wherein the first coupler is movable relative to the first coupler portion between a first carried position with the first coupler carried by the first coupler portion and a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position, the second coupler portion being configured to removably carry a second coupler, wherein the second coupler is movable relative to the second coupler portion between a second carried position with the second coupler carried by the second coupler portion and a second coupled position with the second coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the second coupling position, the first coupler portion being positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the support member axis.
- 16. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry a first coupler, wherein the first coupler is movable relative to the first coupler portion between a first carried position with the first coupler carried by the first coupler portion and a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position the second coupler location being configured to removably carry a second coupler, wherein the second coupler is movable relative to the second coupler portion between a second carried position with the second coupler carried by the second coupler portion and a second coupled position with the second coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the second coupling position, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position of the body of the recipient.
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23. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient and a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion being configured to removably carry a first coupler, the second coupler portion being configured to removably carry a second coupler, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position of the body of the recipient;
wherein the support member includes a cavity at the first coupler portion positioned to receive at least a portion of the first coupler.
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27. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry a first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member, wherein the first coupler is movable relative to the first coupler portion between a first attached position with the first coupler carried by the first engagement member and a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position; and
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, wherein the second coupler is movable relative to the second coupler portion between a second attached position with the second coupler carried by the second engagement member and a second coupled position with the second coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the second coupling position, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 41)
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28. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a first coupler having an electrical contact configured to be connected to a percutaneous electrical probe inserted into the recipient;
a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry the first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member;
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position; and
a flexible cable connected between the first coupler and the support member, the cable remaining connected between the first coupler and the support member when the first coupler is moved from a first attached position with the first coupler carried by the first engagement member to a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51)
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29. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to a be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of ht recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry a first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member; and
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position wherein the support member has a central axis, a first elongated portion positioned along the central axis, a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on first and second sides of the central axis, and a third elongated portion positioned between the first and second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis, further wherein the first and second engagement members are positioned on one of the elongated portions, with the first engagement member including a first post positioned on the first side of the central axis and the second engagement member including second a post positioned on the second side of the central axis.
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32. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a first coupler;
a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry the first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member;
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position; and
a flexible link connected between the first coupler and the support member, the link remaining connected between the first coupler and the support member when the first coupler is moved from the first attached position to the first coupled position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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39. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administrations and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to reset on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry a first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member; and
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be position closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position;
wherein the first engagement member has a cavity positioned to receive at least a portion of the first coupler.
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47. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry a first coupler at the first engagement position of the support member;
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position; and
the first coupler, wherein the first coupler includes an electrical connector positioned for making electrical contact with a percutaneous probe at the first coupling position.
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49. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member which aids in the placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first engagement member configured to removably carry a first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member; and
a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position wherein the support member includes a generally flat, rigid material.
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52. (canceled)
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53. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:
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a flexible support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body;
a first engagement member depending from the support member and configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body;
a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member;
a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member;
a second engagement member depending from the support member body and configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position, the second engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the first engagement member to the second coupling position;
a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and
a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member. - View Dependent Claims (54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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55. (canceled)
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60. (canceled)
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65. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:
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a flexible support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a coupling location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body, the support member having a central axis;
a first engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a first side of the central axis, the first engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first coupling position located on the first side of the central axis;
a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member;
a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member;
a second engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a second side of the central axis opposite the first side of the central axis, the second engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the second coupling position located on the second side of the central axis;
a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and
a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member. - View Dependent Claims (66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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67. (canceled)
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72. (canceled)
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77. (canceled)
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78. (canceled)
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79. (canceled)
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80. (canceled)
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81. (canceled)
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82. (canceled)
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83. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body when spaced apart from the first coupler portion and configured to be removably supported at the first coupler portion;
a second coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body when spaced apart from the second coupler portion and configured to be removably supported at the second-coupler portion;
a recipient care unit configured to deliver therapy, monitor a condition of the recipient, or delivery therapy and monitor a condition of the recipient; and
a first link between the care unit and the first coupler and a second link between the care unit and the second coupler. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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84. (Canceled).
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87. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:
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a support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position on the body of the recipient;
a first coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body and removably supported at the first coupler portion;
a second coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body and removably supported at the second coupler portion;
a recipient care unit configured to deliver therapy monitor a condition of the recipient, or delivery therapy and monitor a condition of the recipient; and
a first link between the care unit and the first coupler and second link between the care unit and the second coupler;
wherein the first coupler is moveable relative to the support member between an attached position with the first coupler engaged with the support member at the first coupler location, a detached position with the first coupler disengaged from the first coupler location, and a coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient at the first coupling position, the first coupler having an electrical contact for connecting to a percutaneous electrical probe inserted into the patient, and further wherein the first link includes a flexible electrical cable.
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88. (canceled)
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94. A method for coupling therapy and/or monitoring equipment to a recipient, comprising:
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positioning a support member against a body of a recipient proximate to a coupling area of the body and spaced apart from first and second coupling positions in the coupling area;
supporting a first coupler relative to the body at a first coupler location of the support member proximate to the first coupling position;
supporting a second coupler relative to the body at a second coupler location of the support member proximate to the second coupling position;
removing the first coupler from the first coupler location of the support member and coupling the first coupler to the body at the first coupling position; and
removing the second coupler from the second coupler location of the support member and coupling the second coupler to the body at the second coupling position. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
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102. A method for coupling therapy and/or monitoring equipment to a recipient, comprising:
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positioning a support member against a body of a recipient proximate to a coupling area of the body, the support member being elongated along a support member axis;
supporting a first coupler relative to the body at a first coupler location of the support member proximate to a first coupling position of the body;
supporting a second coupler relative to the body at a second coupler location of the support member proximate to a second coupling position of the body with the first coupler positioned closer than the second coupler to the support member axis;
removing the first coupler from the first coupler location of the support member and coupling the first coupler to the body at the first coupling position; and
removing the second coupler from the second coupler location of the support member and coupling the second coupler to the body at the second coupling position. - View Dependent Claims (103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. A method for coupling therapy and/or monitoring equipment to a recipient, comprising:
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positioning a support member against a body of a recipient proximate to a coupling area;
supporting a first coupler relative to the body at a first coupler location of the support member proximate to a first coupling position on the body;
supporting a second coupler relative to the body at a second coupler location of the support member proximate to a second coupling position on the body, the first coupler location being positioned closer than the second coupler location to the first coupling position;
removing the first coupler from the first coupler location of the support member and coupling the first coupler to the body at the first coupling position; and
removing the second coupler from the second coupler location of the support member and coupling the second coupler to the body at the second coupling position. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122)
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123. A method for administering percutaneous electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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aligning a flexible support member with a body of a recipient;
positioning the support member against the body proximate to a coupling area;
conforming the support member to a curvature of the body supporting a first coupler relative to the body at a first coupler location of the support member proximate to a first coupling position of the body;
supporting a second coupler relative to the body at a second coupler location of the support member proximate to a second coupling position of the body with the first coupler location positioned closer than the second coupler location to the first coupling position;
removing the first coupler from the first coupler location of the support member and electrically coupling the first coupler to a first percutaneous probe positioned in the body at the first coupling position;
removing the second coupler from the second coupler location of the support member and electrically coupling the second coupler to a second percutaneous probe in the body at the second coupling position; and
electrically coupling the first and second couplers to a source of electrical potential. - View Dependent Claims (124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A method for administering percutaneous electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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aligning a flexible support member with a body of a recipient by aligning a first elongated portion of the support member with a spine of the recipient and positioning second and third elongated portions of the support member transverse to the spine;
conforming the support member to the body proximate to a coupling area;
removing five pairs of electrical couplers from the support member and connecting the electrical couplers to percutaneous probes inserted into the recipient while the electrical couplers remain connected to the support member with electrical cables, wherein removing the five pairs of electrical couplers includes removing couplers of a first pair positioned toward an end of the first elongated portion, removing couplers of a second pair positioned at opposite ends of the second elongated portion, removing couplers of a third pair positioned at opposite ends of the third elongated portion, removing couplers of a fourth pair positioned between the first and second pair, and removing couplers of a fifth pair positioned between the second and third pair; and
electrically connecting each coupler to an electrically conductive percutaneous probe inserted in the body. - View Dependent Claims (130)
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Specification