Electrode assembly for nerve control
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (20) is provided for applying current to a nerve (30). A cathode (40) is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a cathodic longitudinal site of the nerve (30) and to apply a cathodic current to the nerve (30). A primary inhibiting anode (42) is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a primary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve (30) and to apply a primary anodal current to the nerve (30). A secondary inhibiting anode (44) is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a secondary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve (30) and to apply a secondary anodal current to the nerve (30), the secondary anodal longitudinal site being closer to the primary anodal longitudinal site than to the cathodic longitudinal site.
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Citations
131 Claims
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1-89. -89. (canceled)
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90. Apparatus comprising an implantable tubular cuff, the cuff:
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shaped so as to define;
(a) a longitudinal slit having a first edge and a second edge, and (b) at least one hole in a vicinity of the first edge; and
comprising at least one protrusion, which is coupled to the cuff in a vicinity of the second edge, and is adapted to hold the first and second edges together when the protrusion is passed through the hole and when the cuff is disposed within a body of a subject and surrounding longitudinal tissue of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A method for enclosing a section of longitudinal tissue of a subject with a tubular cuff, the method comprising:
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separating a first edge of a longitudinal slit defined by the cuff from a second edge of the slit;
placing the cuff within a body of the subject around the section of the tissue; and
passing at least one protrusion coupled to the cuff in a vicinity of the first edge, through at least one hole defined by the cuff in a vicinity of the second edge, so as to hold the first and second edges together. - View Dependent Claims (116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A method for stimulating a vagus nerve of a subject, comprising:
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applying to the vagus nerve a first electrode device, the first electrode device having a first characteristic diameter;
driving the electrodes of the first electrode device to apply a current to the vagus nerve;
measuring a reduction in heart rate of the subject responsive to driving the electrodes of the first electrode device to apply the current;
determining whether the reduction in heart rate is less than about 10%; and
responsive to determining that the reduction in heart rate is less than about 10%, removing the first electrode device from the nerve and applying to the vagus nerve a second electrode device, the second electrode device having a second characteristic diameter smaller than the first characteristic diameter. - View Dependent Claims (130, 131)
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Specification