IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable electrode system comprising:
- a conductor;
an interconnect coupled to the conductor;
an insulator that insulates the interconnect; and
an anchor that is connected to both the conductor and the insulating element, and wherein the anchoring element mechanically interlocks with at least one of the conductor and the insulator.
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Abstract
The implantable electrode system of the preferred embodiments include a conductor, an interconnect coupled to the conductor, an insulator that insulates the interconnect, and an anchor that is connected to both the conductor and the insulating element, wherein the anchor is mechanically interlocked with at least one of the conductor and the insulator.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An implantable electrode system comprising:
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a conductor; an interconnect coupled to the conductor; an insulator that insulates the interconnect; and an anchor that is connected to both the conductor and the insulating element, and wherein the anchoring element mechanically interlocks with at least one of the conductor and the insulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for attaching a plurality of layers of different materials within an implantable device comprising the steps of:
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providing a first layer of a first material; providing a second layer of a second material; providing an anchor; mechanically interlocking the anchor to the first layer; and chemically bonding the anchor to the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for controlling the charge distribution of an implantable electrode comprising the steps of:
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providing a conductor; providing an interconnect; coupling the interconnect to the conductor; providing an insulator that insulates the interconnect; providing a non-metal anchor; allowing the anchor to partially envelop the conductor and to define an opening to expose a portion of the conductor; providing a current to the conductor; and allowing the non-metal anchor to decrease the initial current density at the enveloped portion of the conductor wherein the resultant initial current density at the enveloped portion of the conductor is substantially similar to the initial current density at the uncovered portion of the conductor.
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23. A method for decreasing irreversible chemical reactions of an implantable electrode comprising the steps of:
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providing a conductor; providing an interconnect; coupling the interconnect to the conductor; providing an insulator that insulates the interconnect; providing a non-metal anchor; chemically bonding the anchor to the insulator; allowing the anchor to substantially envelop the perimeter of the conductor and to define an opening to expose the center portion of the conductor; providing a current to the conductor; and allowing the non-metal anchor to decrease the initial current density at the perimeter of the conductor wherein the resultant initial current density at the perimeter of the conductor is substantially similar to the initial current density at the center portion of the conductor.
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24. An implantable electrode system comprising:
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a conductor including a leg; an interconnect coupled to the conductor; an anchor of substantially the same material as the conductor, wherein the anchor is chemically bonded to the leg of the conductor; and an insulator that includes a first layer that defines a first surface that supports the interconnect, a second layer that insulates the interconnect and defines a second surface that supports the anchor, and a third layer that partially envelops the anchor and defines an opening to expose a portion of the anchor to bond with the leg of the conductor and thereby mechanically interlocking the third layer with the anchor, and wherein the third layer defines a third surface that supports the conductor.
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25. An implantable electrode system comprising:
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a conductor including a leg; an interconnect coupled to the conductor; an anchor of substantially the same material as the conductor, wherein the anchor is chemically bonded to the leg of the conductor; and an insulator that includes a first layer that defines a first surface that supports the interconnect and the anchor, and a second layer that insulates the interconnect from the anchor and partially envelops the anchor, wherein the second layer also defines an opening to expose a portion of the anchor to bond with the leg of the conductor and thereby mechanically interlocking the second layer with the anchor, and wherein the second layer defines a second surface that supports the conductor.
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26. An implantable electrode system comprising:
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a conductor; an interconnect coupled to the conductor; an insulator that includes a first layer that defines a first surface that supports the interconnect and a second layer that insulates the interconnect and defines a second surface that supports the conductor; and an anchor of substantially the same material as the insulator, wherein the anchor is chemically bonded to the insulator, and wherein the anchor partially envelops the conductor and defines an opening to expose a portion of the conductor, thereby mechanically interlocking the anchor with the conductor.
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27. An implantable electrode system comprising:
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a conductor that defines a conductor surface; an interconnect coupled to the conductor; an insulator that includes a first layer that defines a first surface that supports the interconnect and a second layer that insulates the interconnect and defines a second surface that supports the conductor; and an anchor that is supported by the conductor surface and is of substantially the same material as the insulator, wherein the anchor partially envelops the conductor and defines an opening to expose a portion of the conductor.
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Specification