MICRODEVICE-BASED ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES AND ASSOCIATED NEURAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A patient treatment system, comprising:
- a microstimulator that includes a patient-implantable housing having an external surface, a pulse generator internal to the housing, and first and second microstimulator electrodes accessible from outside the housing;
a patient-implantable, flexible support member attached to the external surface of the housing and carrying the housing;
a first support member electrode carried by the support member and electrically connected to the first microstimulator electrode; and
a second support member electrode carried by the support member and electrically connected to the second microstimulator electrode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Microdevice-based electrode assemblies and associated neurostimulation systems, devices and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a microdevice positioned to send signals or fluids to the patient, and/or to receive signals or fluids from the patient. The microdevice can include a housing having an external surface, and a signal/fluid transmitter/receiver positioned within the housing and coupled to a terminal carried by the housing. The system can further include a patient-implantable, flexible support member attached to the external surface of the housing and carrying the housing. The system can still further include an interface carried by the support member and connected to the terminal, with the interface being positioned to direct signals or fluids into patient tissue, and/or receive signals or fluids from the patient tissue.
92 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A patient treatment system, comprising:
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a microstimulator that includes a patient-implantable housing having an external surface, a pulse generator internal to the housing, and first and second microstimulator electrodes accessible from outside the housing; a patient-implantable, flexible support member attached to the external surface of the housing and carrying the housing; a first support member electrode carried by the support member and electrically connected to the first microstimulator electrode; and a second support member electrode carried by the support member and electrically connected to the second microstimulator electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A patient treatment system, comprising:
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a microstimulator, including; a hermetically sealed housing having a length of about 15 millimeters or less and a transverse dimension of about 2 millimeters or less, the housing having an external surface with a first periphery and a first footprint; a pulse unit positioned in the housing, the pulse unit including circuitry to produce electrical pulses; a control unit positioned in the housing and coupled to the pulse unit, the control unit being programmed with instructions to control the production of electrical pulses; a communication unit coupled to the control unit and positioned within the housing to receive power, instruction signals, or both power and instruction signals; and first and second microstimulator electrodes carried by the housing and coupled to the pulse unit, with one of the electrodes operating as a signal delivery electrode and the other operating as a return electrode; an implantable, flexible support member that does not extend into a region internal to the housing, is generally electrically non-conductive, and has a second footprint larger than the first footprint and a second periphery that encloses the first periphery; first and second support member electrodes carried by the support member and positioned apart from the housing; a first electrical signal path carried by the support member and connected between the first microstimulator electrode and the first support member electrode; and a second electrical signal path carried by the support member and connected between the second microstimulator electrode and the second support member electrode, wherein at least one of the first and second electrical signal paths includes a conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A patient system, comprising:
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a microdevice positioned to send signals or fluids to the patient, and/or receive signals or fluids from the patient, the microdevice including a housing having an external surface, and a signal/fluid transmitter/receiver positioned within the housing and coupled to a terminal carried by the housing; a patient-implantable, flexible support member attached to the external surface of the housing and carrying the housing; and an interface carried by the support member and connected to the terminal, the interface being positioned to direct signals or fluids into patient tissue, and/or receive signals or fluids from the patient tissue. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A patient system, comprising:
a support member that includes; an elongated, flexible lead body portion having at least one lumen; a conductive polymer disposed in the lumen; an electrical connector positioned at a proximal end of the lead body portion, the electrical connector being in electrical communication with the conductive polymer; and a distal portion at a distal end of the lead body, the distal portion carrying at least one patient electrode positioned to deliver electrical signals to a patient, receive electrical signals from the patient, or both deliver and receive electrical signals, the electrode being in electrical communication with the conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for making a patient treatment system, comprising:
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attaching an external surface of a microstimulator housing of a patient-implantable microstimulator to a flexible, implantable support member at a structural connection location, the microstimulator having an electrical pulse generator internal to the housing, and first and second microstimulator electrodes coupled to the pulse generator and accessible from outside the housing; attaching first and second support member electrodes to the support member; connecting a first electrical signal path between the first support member electrode and the first microstimulator electrode at a first electrical connection location different than the structural connection location; and connecting a second electrical signal path between the second support member electrode and the second microstimulator electrode at a second electrical connection location different than the structural connection location. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
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implanting, as a unit, a flexible, implantable support member that carries a microstimulator having an external surface attached to the support member, the microstimulator having first and second microstimulator electrodes; positioning a first support member electrode relative to a target neural population of the patient, the first support member electrode being carried by the support member and being coupled to the first microstimulator electrode; positioning a second support member electrode relative to the target neural population of the patient, the second support member electrode being carried by the support member and being coupled to the second microstimulator electrode; resisting relative motion between the microstimulator and the target neural population by the presence of the support member; and applying electrical signals to the patient via the first and second electrodes to treat a neural dysfunction. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification