Process for Cathodic Protection of Electrode Material

• US 20100147702A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cortigent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert J., Zhou, Dao Min, Little, James Singleton, Hines, Amy
• Granted Patent: US 8,034,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/724
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 13/00 Inhibiting corrosion of metals by anodic or cathodic protection
• CPC Class Codes: C23F 13/02 cathodic; Selection of conditions, parameters or procedures for cathodic protection, e.g. of electrical conditions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for cathodic protection of electrode or electrode materials wherein negative bias is applied on the electrode. The negative bias is obtained by asymmetric current pulse. The asymmetric current pulse is obtained by performing negative phase with higher amplitude. The asymmetric current pulse is obtained by performing negative phase with wider pulse width than that of the anodic phase. The asymmetric current pulse is obtained by performing negative phase with higher amplitude and with wider pulse width than that of the anodic phase. The present invention further relates to a process for cathodic protection of electrode or electrode materials, wherein negative bias is applied on the electrode, wherein the negative bias is obtained by asymmetric current pulse, wherein the asymmetric current pulse is obtained by performing negative phase with wider pulse width than that of the anodic phase. The wider pulse width is obtained by pulse trains.

Claims

1. A process for cathodic protection of an electrode or electrode materials wherein asymmetric biphasic current pulse trains with a negative bias are applied on the electrode.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the negative bias is obtained by providing more negative pulses than positive pulses.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the negative phases provide greater charge from 1-15%.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the negative phases provide greater charge from 3-7%.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the negative phases provide greater charge from 4-6%.

6. The process according to claim 1 wherein electrode materials comprising Pt, Pd, Ti, TiN, Nb, Rh, Ir, IrO₂, Au, or W, or mixtures or oxides or alloys thereof.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the electrode materials are biocompatible.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are suitable to stimulate neural tissue.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the negative bias is limited to keep the voltage excursion within the water widow.