Human tissue stimulation electrode structure
First Claim
1. Apparatus for applying electrical stimulation current to body tissue comprising, in combination,a stimulation source having a first relatively positive polarity potential and a second relatively negative polarity potential,an electrode structure having a first electrode means formed of pyrolytic carbon and a second metallic electrode means, andlead means for connecting electrically said first electrode means to the relatively negative polarity potential of said stimulation source and said second electrode means to the relatively positive polarity potential of said stimulation source.
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Abstract
The invention generally provides an improved, implantable electrode structure for human tissue stimulation application, and particularly proposes the use of pyrolytic carbon as material from which to fabricate the stimulation electrode. For cardiac stimulation use, the proposed electrode structure can be either a bipolar or unipolar unit, wherein the distal, tip electrode is made of pyrolytic carbon and the proximal or indifferent electrode is metallic. For other tissue stimulation applications, e.g., involving the cerebellar region of the brain, the proposed electrode structure is formed of a pyrolytic carbon electrode surrounded by an outer ring electrode formed of metallic segments; the electrodes being carried on the surface of a pad of cushioning material, such as foam silicon rubber.
53 Citations
6 Claims
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1. Apparatus for applying electrical stimulation current to body tissue comprising, in combination,
a stimulation source having a first relatively positive polarity potential and a second relatively negative polarity potential, an electrode structure having a first electrode means formed of pyrolytic carbon and a second metallic electrode means, and lead means for connecting electrically said first electrode means to the relatively negative polarity potential of said stimulation source and said second electrode means to the relatively positive polarity potential of said stimulation source.
Specification