SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO A BODILY TISSUE

• US 20090054952A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Regev, Einan, Wilkin, Kevin, Glukhovsky, Arkady, Gord, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate, a power source, a connector, electrical circuitry, and an electrode assembly. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface different than the first surface. The power source has a positive terminal and a negative terminal Each of the positive terminal and the negative terminal are coupled to the substrate. The power source is configured to provide power to an external stimulator coupled to the apparatus. The connector is disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate and is electrically coupled to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source. The connector is configured to electrically couple the external stimulator to the power source. The electrical circuitry is coupled to the substrate. The electrical circuitry is configured to electrically couple the connector to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source. At least one of the connector or the electrical circuitry is configured to prevent a short circuit of the electrical circuit. The electrode assembly is coupled to the second surface of the substrate. At least one electrode of the electrode assembly is configured to contact bodily tissue and to facilitate transmission of an electrical current through the bodily tissue.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface different than the first surface;

a power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, each of the positive terminal and the negative terminal being coupled to the substrate, the power source configured to provide power to an external stimulator coupled to the apparatus;

a connector disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source, the connector configured to electrically couple the external stimulator to the power source;

electrical circuitry coupled to the substrate, the electrical circuitry configured to electrically couple the connector to at least one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source, at least one of the connector or the electrical circuitry being configured to prevent a short circuit of the electrical circuit; and

an electrode assembly coupled to the second surface of the substrate, at least one electrode of the electrode assembly configured to contact bodily tissue and to facilitate transmission of an electrical current through the bodily tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuitry includes a fuse configured to open the electrical circuit in the presence of a threshold electrical load, the power source being substantially inhibited from providing power to the external stimulator when the electrical circuit is open.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuitry includes a switch having an open configuration and a closed configuration, in its open configuration, the switch is configured to open the electrical circuit, in its closed configuration, the switch is configured to close the electrical circuit, the switch being biased to its open configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuitry includes a diode configured to allow an electrical current to flow in a first direction and to substantially inhibit flow of the electrical current in a second direction different than the first direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is an antenna configured to be in wireless communication with the external stimulator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the connector being a first connector electrically coupled to the positive terminal of the power source, the apparatus further comprising:

a second connector disposed on the first surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the power source; and

a hydrophobic barrier configured to increase impedance of an electrical current between the first connector and the second connector when a portion of the substrate is wetted.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one electrode of the electrode assembly being a first electrode, the electrode assembly including a second electrode different than the first electrode, the second electrode configured to receive at least a portion of the electrical current.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode of the electrode assembly is configured to facilitate transmission of the electrical current from the external stimulator to an electrical lead at least partially implanted within the bodily tissue.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is coupled to the substrate by an electrically conductive tab, the electrically conductive tab being coupled to the substrate by at least one of a solder, a brazer, a weld, or an adhesive.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a first layer and a second layer, at least one of the power source, connector, and electrical circuitry being at least partially embedded in the first layer, the second layer of the substrate being formed over a portion of the electrode assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed of a first material, the second layer being formed of a second material different than the first material, the second material being non-conductive.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the substrate, the magnet configured to move a switch in an external stimulator from a first position in which the switch is electrically coupled to a first output channel to a second position in which the switch is electrically coupled to a second output channel different than the first output channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one electrode of the electrode assembly is configured to facilitate transmission of an electrical current from the external stimulator through the bodily tissue.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface different than the first surface;

an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode different than the first electrode, the electrode assembly being coupled to the second surface of the substrate and being configured to facilitate transmission of an electrical current from an external stimulator through a bodily tissue;

a power source being coupled to the substrate and being configured to provide power to the external stimulator; and

a connection assembly including up to two mechanical connectors coupled to the first surface of the substrate, the connection assembly having a first configuration in which the up to two connectors are electrically coupled to the external stimulator and a second configuration in which the up to two connectors are electrically isolated from the external stimulator, when the connection assembly is in its first configuration, the connection assembly is configured to complete a power circuit between the power source and the external stimulator and a stimulation circuit between the external stimulator and the electrode assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power source has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a connector of the connection assembly is configured to electrically couple the external stimulator to the positive terminal of the power source and to the first electrode.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power source has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a connector of the connection assembly is configured to electrically couple the external stimulator to the negative terminal of the power source and to the second electrode.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a diode configured to allow the electrical current to flow in a first direction between the first electrode and the second electrode, the diode configured to substantially inhibit flow of the electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode in a second direction opposite the first direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a capacitor configured to separate an alternating current from a direct current, the capacitor configured to substantially inhibit flow of the direct current from the power source to the first electrode.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a capacitor configured to separate an alternating current from a direct current, the capacitor configured to deliver at least one of the alternating current and the direct current from the external stimulator to the first electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a connector of the connection assembly is configured for wireless electrical communication between the battery and the external stimulator.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a connector of the connection assembly is configured for wireless electrical communication between an electrode of the electrode assembly and the external stimulator.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a connector of the connection assembly is a coil configured to wirelessly transmit an electrical output to the external stimulator.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

an oscillator coupled to the substrate, the oscillator configured to deliver an oscillation to a coil coupled to the substrate to initiate wireless transmission of an electrical output from the coil to the external stimulator.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a connector of the connection assembly is an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate an electrical current between the external stimulator and at least one of the power source and the electrode assembly.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a flexible battery having a first surface and a second surface and being configured to provide power to an external stimulator coupled to the flexible battery; and

at least one electrode coupled directly to a second surface of the flexible battery, the at least one electrode configured to receive an electrical input from the external stimulator, the at least one electrode configured to contact a bodily tissue and to transmit the electrical stimulation through the bodily tissue.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

electrical circuitry coupled to the flexible battery and configured to transmit the electrical input from the external stimulator to the at least one electrode.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a connection assembly coupled to the first surface of the flexible battery, the connection assembly configured to complete a power circuit between the flexible battery and the external stimulator and a stimulation circuit between the external stimulator and the at least one electrode.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a connector configured to electrically couple the flexible battery to the external stimulator.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a connector configured to electrically couple the at least one electrode to the external stimulator.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the flexible battery is in wireless electrical communication with the external stimulator.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface different than the first surface; and

a connector disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate, the connector configured to receive a wireless electrical input from an external stimulator and to transmit an electrical current to an electrode coupled to the second surface of the substrate, the electrode configured to transmit at least a portion of the electrical current through a target bodily tissue.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the connector is an antenna.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the connector is printed on the substrate.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the connector is a coil.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, the connector being a first connector, the apparatus further comprising:

a second connector disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate, the second connector configured to be in wireless electrical communication with the external stimulator, the second connector electrically coupled to a power source.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, the connector being a first connector and the electrode being a first electrode, the apparatus further comprising:

a second connector disposed proximate to the first surface of the substrate, the second connector configured to wirelessly electrically couple a second electrode different than the first electrode to the external stimulator.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

electrical circuitry coupled to the substrate and configured to electrically couple the connector to the electrode, the electrical circuitry including a switch having an open position and a closed position, the electrical circuit being complete when the switch is in its closed position.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a switch having an open position and a closed position, the switch being biased towards the open position, the switch configured to be moved to its closed position by a magnet, in its closed position, the switch configured to complete a portion of an electrical circuit coupled to the substrate.