SURGICALLY IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODES

• US 20090099439A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giancarlo Barolat
• Original Assignee: Giancarlo Barolat
• Inventors: Barolat, Giancarlo
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

The present inventions provide for paddle lead electrodes that are capable of performing peripheral nerve stimulation, thereby modulating, controlling and/or reducing neuropathic pain in a patient, that are also surgically implantable, and that will remain fixed in place at the site of implantation when in use. More specifically, one or more embodiments of the electrodes of the present inventions are capable of being surgically implanted underneath a sheath of protective connective tissue that covers electrically excitable tissues and are adapted to electrically stimulate those tissues. Electrodes contemplated by embodiments of the present inventions are particularly well suited for perineurial implantation. Embodiments of the present inventions include methods of use associated with the electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable electrode for electrically stimulating tissues, comprising:

(a) a paddle comprising;

(i) a forward portion located along a first end of the paddle, the forward portion including at least one electrical contact disposed within the forward portion substantially toward a ventral surface of the paddle; and

(ii) a back portion connected to the forward portion and located along a second end of the paddle;

(b) at least one contact wire interconnected at a first end to the at least one electrical contact, the at least one contact wire extending through at least a portion of the forward portion of the paddle, wherein the at least one contact wire is interconnected at a second end to a lead extending from a lead connection located on a dorsal surface of the paddle between the forward portion and the back portion, wherein the lead is adapted to be interconnected to a power source; and

(c) a notch located on the ventral surface of the paddle that is within and transversely oriented to a longitudinal axis of the paddle;

wherein the at least one contact wire provides electrical continuity between the at least one electrical contact and the lead; and

wherein the lead provides electrical continuity between the at least one contact wire and the power source.

2. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the back portion is deformable from the forward portion.

3. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the back portion includes slidably engaging surfaces for extending the back portion from the forward portion.

4. The implantable electrode of claim 1, wherein the back portion comprises a selectively adjustable telescoping extension.

5. An implantable electrode for electrically stimulating a tissue, the implantable electrode adapted to be interconnected to a power source using a lead, the implantable electrode comprising:

(a) a paddle comprising;

(i) a forward portion located along a first end of the paddle, the forward portion including at least one electrical contact disposed within the forward portion along a ventral surface of the paddle; and

(ii) a back portion connected to the forward portion, the back portion being at least one of deformable and extendable from the forward portion; and

(b) at least one contact wire interconnected to the at least one electrical contact and extending along at least a portion of the forward portion of the paddle, the at least one contact wire providing electrical continuity between the at least one electrical contact and the lead.

6. The implantable electrode of claim 5, further comprising a lead connection located along a dorsal surface of the paddle, wherein the lead connection directionally transitions the at least one contact wire from an orientation substantially planar to the paddle to the lead, the lead situated in an orientation transverse to the dorsal surface of the paddle.

7. The implantable electrode of claim 6, wherein the lead connection is located longitudinally along the dorsal surface between the forward portion and the back portion.

8. The implantable electrode of claim 5, further comprising a notch located on the ventral surface of the paddle that is within the paddle and transversely oriented to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

9. The implantable electrode of claim 5, wherein the back portion is devoid of one or more electrical contacts.

10. An implantable electrode for electrically stimulating nervous tissue, the implantable electrode adapted to be interconnected to a power source using a lead, the implantable electrode comprising:

(a) a paddle comprising;

(i) a forward portion located along a first end of the paddle, the forward portion including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the forward portion toward a ventral surface of the paddle; and

(ii) a back portion connected to the forward portion, the back portion comprising means for longitudinally extending in a direction longitudinally opposite the forward portion; and

(b) means for providing electrical continuity between the electrical contacts and the lead.

11. The implantable electrode of claim 10, wherein the means for longitudinally extending comprises a selectively adjustable telescoping extension.

12. The implantable electrode of claim 11, wherein the back portion comprises a forked biasing member including projections for engaging indentations residing within a portion of the paddle during telescoping extension.

13. The implantable electrode of claim 10, wherein the means for longitudinally extending comprises a tether.

14. An implantable assembly for treating neuropathy, comprising:

(a) an implantable electrode, comprising;

(i) a forward portion located along a first end of the implantable electrode, the forward portion including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the forward portion toward a ventral surface of the implantable electrode; and

(ii) a back portion connected to the forward portion and located along a second end of the implantable electrode;

wherein at least one of the forward portion or the back portion comprise a notch located on the ventral surface of the implantable electrode and transversely oriented to a longitudinal axis of the implantable electrode;

(b) a lead extending from a lead connection located on a dorsal surface of the implantable electrode substantially between the forward portion and the back portion;

(c) means for providing electrical continuity between the plurality of electrical contacts and the lead; and

(d) a power source interconnected to the lead at a location spaced apart from the implantable electrode.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the back portion is at least one of selectively adjustable and deformable relative to the forward portion.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the back portion comprises means for extending in a direction longitudinally opposite the forward portion.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the power source is selected from group consisting of a battery pack and a pacemaker battery.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the lead connection directionally transitions the lead from an orientation transverse to the dorsal surface of the implantable electrode to the means for providing electrical continuity located in an orientation substantially planar to the implantable electrode.