Interfacing With The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Using Targeted Fascicular Interface Device
First Claim
1. A device for interfacing with a selected axon inside a single fascicle in a nerve in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) via a single hole in the epineurium of the nerve and a single hole in the perineurium of the fascicle, comprising:
- a biocompatible conductor capable of receiving an electrical signal from the axon or providing an electrical stimulation to the axon while positioned within a threshold distance of the axon, where the conductor has a diameter of less than 11 μ
m, and where the conductor has a flexural rigidity measure of less than 1.5×
10−
15 Pa*m2, andan insulator that covers at least a portion of the conductor,where the insulator comprises a material that promotes healing at the single hole in the perineurium, and where the insulator comprises a material that adheres to the perineurium.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stealthy conductor that may be placed inside a fascicle in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is described. The conductor is placed using a targeted-fascicle or targeted-axon approach to improve specificity and signal to noise ratio (SNR). The conductor is part of a targeted fascicular interface device and is placed using an insertion tool in a manner that reduces nerve damage as compared to conventional systems. The conductor is so small (e.g., <10 μm diameter) and so flexible (e.g., approximates flexibility of surrounding neuronal material) that biological reactions (e.g., recruitment of macrophages, edema) to the presence of the conductor may be reduced. The targeted fascicular interface device has an insulated portion and a non-insulated portion that may act as an electrode. The insulated portion may include materials that promote healing at the entry/exit site and that adhere to the perineurium.
18 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A device for interfacing with a selected axon inside a single fascicle in a nerve in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) via a single hole in the epineurium of the nerve and a single hole in the perineurium of the fascicle, comprising:
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a biocompatible conductor capable of receiving an electrical signal from the axon or providing an electrical stimulation to the axon while positioned within a threshold distance of the axon, where the conductor has a diameter of less than 11 μ
m, and where the conductor has a flexural rigidity measure of less than 1.5×
10−
15 Pa*m2, andan insulator that covers at least a portion of the conductor, where the insulator comprises a material that promotes healing at the single hole in the perineurium, and where the insulator comprises a material that adheres to the perineurium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An assembly for use in surgically implanting a device for interfacing with an axon inside a single fascicle in a nerve in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) via a hole in the epineurium of the nerve and a hole in the perineurium of the fascicle, the assembly comprising:
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an insertion tool shaped and sized to create the hole in the perineurium and to place the device inside the fascicle through the hole in the perineurium, and the device; where the tip of the insertion tool that creates the hole in the perineurium is less than 5 μ
m in diameter, where the insertion tool has a stiffness of at least 200 GPa, and where the insertion tool is shaped and sized to penetrate the perineurium surrounding the axon with an applied force less than that required by a 35 gauge needle;and where the device comprises; a biocompatible conductor capable of receiving an electrical signal from the axon or providing an electrical stimulation to the axon while positioned longitudinally within a threshold distance of the axon for at least a run length, where the conductor has a diameter of less than 11 μ
m, andan insulator that covers at least a portion of the conductor, where the insulator comprises a material that adheres to the perineurium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical technique for implanting a device for interfacing with an axon inside a single fascicle in a nerve in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) via a single hole in the epineurium of the nerve and a single hole in the perineurium of the fascicle, the surgical technique comprising:
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applying a first substance to at least partially dissolve the epineurium to at least partially expose the perineurium; puncturing the perineurium with an insertion tool to produce the single hole in the perineurium; positioning the device through the single hole in the epineurium and the single hole in the perineurium using the insertion tool so that a conducting portion of the device is located longitudinally in the fascicle and so that an insulating portion of the device is in contact with an edge of the single hole in the perineurium; removing the insertion tool through the single hole in the perineurium and the single hole in the epineurium; applying a second substance to the single hole in the perineurium to promote healing of the perineurium and to fix the device in place with respect to the fascicle, and applying a third substance to the single hole in the epineurium to promote healing of the epineurium and to fix the device in place with respect to the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification