Apparatus and methods for applying neural stimulation to a patient
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for neural stimulation may include a stimulus unit; a first electrode assembly having a first set of contacts; and a second set of contacts. The stimulus unit can be an implantable pulse generator including a first terminal that can be biased at a first signal polarity and a second terminal that can be biased at a second signal polarity. The first electrode assembly includes a support member configured to be placed at the stimulation site, the first set of contacts carried by the support member, and a first lead configured to be attached to the first terminal of the implantable pulse generator for biasing the surface contacts at the first polarity. The second set of contacts is detached from the surface electrode assembly. The second set of contacts can be one or more conductive elements fixed to or forming portions of the implantable pulse generator, or a separate electrode array.
108 Citations
119 Claims
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1-75. -75. (canceled)
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76. A system for applying electrical stimulation to a cortex of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable housing having a first portion and a second portion;
a pulse generator carried by the implantable housing;
a plurality of first electrical contacts carried by the first portion of the housing so as to be positioned at a cortical stimulation site of the patient located at least approximately at or below an inner surface of the patient'"'"'s skull when the housing is implanted, the first electrical contacts being generally fixed laterally relative to the first portion of the housing, and electrically biasable to different levels; and
at least one second electrical contact carried by the second portion of the housing so as to be positioned at least approximately at or above an outer surface of the patient'"'"'s skull and beneath the patient'"'"'s scalp when the housing is implanted. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A system for applying electrical stimulation to a cortex of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable housing having a first portion and a second portion;
a pulse generator carried by the implantable housing;
a first electrical contact carried by the first portion of the housing so as to be positioned at a cortical stimulation site of the patient located at least approximately at or below an inner surface of the patient'"'"'s skull when the housing is implanted, the first electrical contact being generally fixed laterally relative to the first portion of the housing; and
a second electrical contact carried by the second portion of the housing so as to be positioned at least approximately at or above an outer surface of the patient'"'"'s skull and beneath the patient'"'"'s scalp when the housing is implanted. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
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104. A system for applying electrical stimulation to a cortex of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable housing;
a pulse generator carried by the implantable housing;
a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the pulse generator so as to be positioned at a cortical stimulation site of the patient located at least approximately at or below an inner surface of the patient'"'"'s skull when the housing is implanted; and
a second electrical contact carried by the housing and having a fixed position relative to the housing so as to be positioned at least approximately at or above an outer surface of the patient'"'"'s skull and beneath the patient'"'"'s scalp when the housing is implanted. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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115. A method for implanting a cortical stimulation device, comprising:
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providing an implantable housing carrying a pulse generator, the pulse generator being electrically coupled to a first electrical contact, the housing carrying a second electrical contact;
forming a hole in a patient'"'"'s skull;
moving the first electrical contact into the hole and positioning the first electrical contact at a cortical stimulation site of the patient located at least approximately at or below an inner surface of the patient'"'"'s skull; and
placing the implantable housing in the hole so as to position the second electrode at least approximately at or above an outer surface of the patient'"'"'s skull and beneath the patient'"'"'s scalp, with the second electrode having a fixed position relative to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (116, 117, 118, 119)
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Specification