ELECTRODE CUFF WITH RECESSES
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:
- one or more electrode contact surfaces; and
a cuff, to which the electrode contact surfaces are fixed, and which;
(a) comprises an electrically insulating material, (b) has a longitudinal axis, (c) is configured to assume open and closed positions, and (d) when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define;
(i) a plurality of planar cross sections perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, distributed continuously along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, such that the perpendicular cross sections define respective inner closed curves surrounding the longitudinal axis, which inner closed curves define and enclose respective inner cross-sectional regions,wherein an intersection of the cross-sectional regions, if the cross-sectional regions were to be superimposed while preserving orientation and position of the cross-sectional regions with respect to the cuff, would define a combined inner cross-sectional region, which, if extended along the entire length of the cuff, would define a combined innermost volume, and(ii) a plurality of recesses that are recessed radially outwardly from the combined innermost volume, each of which recesses extends along the longitudinal axis of the cuff and has a greatest length, measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis, that is less than 50% of the entire length of the cuff,wherein the inner closed curves enclose respective areas, each of which areas is greater than an area of the combined inner cross-sectional region.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode assembly includes one or more electrode contact surfaces, and a cuff, to which the contact surfaces are fixed, and which comprises an electrically insulating material, is configured to assume open and closed positions, and, when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define a plurality of planar cross sections perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cuff, distributed continuously along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, such that the perpendicular cross sections define respective inner closed curves that together define an inner surface that defines and completely surrounds a volume that extends along the entire length of the cuff. The inner closed curves of at least two of the perpendicular cross sections would cross, and not merely intersect, one another if superimposed while preserving orientation and position of the perpendicular cross sections with respect to the cuff. Other embodiments are also described.
77 Citations
96 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:
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one or more electrode contact surfaces; and a cuff, to which the electrode contact surfaces are fixed, and which;
(a) comprises an electrically insulating material, (b) has a longitudinal axis, (c) is configured to assume open and closed positions, and (d) when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define;(i) a plurality of planar cross sections perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, distributed continuously along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, such that the perpendicular cross sections define respective inner closed curves surrounding the longitudinal axis, which inner closed curves define and enclose respective inner cross-sectional regions, wherein an intersection of the cross-sectional regions, if the cross-sectional regions were to be superimposed while preserving orientation and position of the cross-sectional regions with respect to the cuff, would define a combined inner cross-sectional region, which, if extended along the entire length of the cuff, would define a combined innermost volume, and (ii) a plurality of recesses that are recessed radially outwardly from the combined innermost volume, each of which recesses extends along the longitudinal axis of the cuff and has a greatest length, measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis, that is less than 50% of the entire length of the cuff, wherein the inner closed curves enclose respective areas, each of which areas is greater than an area of the combined inner cross-sectional region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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3. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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9-10. -10. (canceled)
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12-13. -13. (canceled)
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19. Apparatus placeable around tubular body tissue, the apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:
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one or more electrode contact surfaces; and a cuff, to which the electrode contact surfaces are fixed, and which;
(a) comprises an electrically insulating material, (b) has a longitudinal axis, (c) is configured to assume open and closed positions, and (d) when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define a plurality of recesses that are recessed radially outwardly from the tubular body tissue if the cuff is placed therearound, such that the cuff is recessed at every longitudinal location along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, and each of the recesses extends along the longitudinal axis of the cuff and has a greatest length, measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis, that is less than 50% of the entire length of the cuff. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus placeable around an elliptical cylinder having a major axis that is between 1 and 8 mm and a minor axis that is between 0.5 and 6 mm, the apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:
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one or more electrode contact surfaces; and a cuff, to which the electrode contact surfaces are fixed, and which;
(a) comprises an electrically insulating material, (b) has a longitudinal axis, (c) is configured to assume open and closed positions, and (d) when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define a plurality of recesses that are recessed radially outwardly from the cylinder if the cuff is placed therearound, such that the cuff is recessed at every longitudinal location along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, and each of the recesses extends along the longitudinal axis of the cuff and has a greatest length, measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis, that is less than 50% of the entire length of the cuff. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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25. (canceled)
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28-89. -89. (canceled)
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90. A method comprising:
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providing an electrode assembly that includes (1) one or more electrode contact surfaces, and (2) a cuff, to which the electrode contact surfaces are fixed, and which;
(a) includes an electrically insulating material, (b) has a longitudinal axis, and (c) is configured to assume open and closed positions, and (d) when in the closed position, is shaped so as to define a plurality of recesses that are recessed radially outwardly from the tubular body tissue, such that the cuff is recessed at every longitudinal location along an entire length of the cuff along the longitudinal axis, and each of the recesses extends along the longitudinal axis of the cuff and has a greatest length, measured in parallel with the longitudinal axis, that is less than 50% of the entire length of the cuff;while the cuff is in the open position, placing the electrode assembly around tubular body tissue of a subject; and coupling the cuff to the tubular body tissue by causing the cuff to assume the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96-104. -104. (canceled)
Specification