Subdural strip electrode for determining epileptogenic foci
First Claim
1. An improved subdural strip electrode for determining epileptogenic foci of the type having a fully-implantable elongated flexible dielectric strip formed of front and back dielectric layers, spaced aligned flat contacts sandwiched between such layers with faces exposed by front-layer openings, and lead wires secured within and exiting the strip from a proximal end portion, the strip having a pair of opposite edges spaced apart by a principal width along a major portion of the strip length abutting the proximal end portion, the improvement wherein:
- the principal strip width is less than about 8 mm;
the opposite edges, along substantially the entire proximal end portion, extend in straight converging lines to form a tapered length terminating at a tip from which the wires extend, said straight converging lines and tapered length extending along a length greater than the principal strip width; and
the strip while of a short length accommodating full implantation, has said tip of a width sufficiently narrow so that withdrawal of the strip electrode can begin without substantial incision,whereby the strip electrode is configured and dimensioned such that it may be completely withdrawn after extended implantation without entering general surgery.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved subdural strip electrode for determining epileptogenic foci. The strip has a long gradually tapered proximal end portion terminating in a narrow tip from which lead wires extend, allowing withdrawal of the strip electrode without substantial incision. The strip width and thickness are much less than in prior subdural strip electrodes, and the strip may be withdrawn after extended implantation without the need for general surgery. One preferred embodiment includes a reinforced central region along the strip.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An improved subdural strip electrode for determining epileptogenic foci of the type having a fully-implantable elongated flexible dielectric strip formed of front and back dielectric layers, spaced aligned flat contacts sandwiched between such layers with faces exposed by front-layer openings, and lead wires secured within and exiting the strip from a proximal end portion, the strip having a pair of opposite edges spaced apart by a principal width along a major portion of the strip length abutting the proximal end portion, the improvement wherein:
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the principal strip width is less than about 8 mm; the opposite edges, along substantially the entire proximal end portion, extend in straight converging lines to form a tapered length terminating at a tip from which the wires extend, said straight converging lines and tapered length extending along a length greater than the principal strip width; and the strip while of a short length accommodating full implantation, has said tip of a width sufficiently narrow so that withdrawal of the strip electrode can begin without substantial incision, whereby the strip electrode is configured and dimensioned such that it may be completely withdrawn after extended implantation without entering general surgery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An improved subdural strip electrode for determining epileptogenic foci of the type having an elongated flexible dielectric strip formed of front and back dielectric layers, spaced aligned flat contacts sandwiched between such layers with faces exposed by front-layer openings, and lead wires secured within and exiting the strip from a proximal end portion, the strip having a pair of opposite edges spaced apart by a principal width along a major portion of the strip length abutting the proximal end portion, the improvement wherein:
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the principal strip width is less than about 8 mm and the thickness of the strip is within the range of about 0.30 mm to 0.75 mm; the opposite edges, along substantially the entire proximal end portion, extend in straight converging lines to form a tapered length terminating at a tip from which the wires extend, said straight converging lines and tapered length extending along a length greater than the principal strip width; and the tip has a width sufficiently narrow so that withdrawal of the strip electrode can begin without substantial incision, whereby the strip electrode is configured and dimensioned such that it may be completely withdrawn after extended implatation without entering general surgery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An improved subdural strip electrode for determining epileptongenic foci of the type having an elongated flexible dielectric strip formed of front and back dielectric layers, spaced aligned flat contacts sandwiched between such layers with faces exposed by front-layer openings, and lead wires secured within and exiting the strip from a proximal end portion, the strip having a pair of opposite edges spaced apart by a principal width along a major portion of the strip length abutting the proximal end portion, the improvement wherein:
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the principal strip width is less than about 8 mm and the thickness of the strip is within the range of about 0.30 mm to 0.75 mm; the opposite edges, along substantially the entire proximal end portion, extend in straight converging lines to form a tapered length terminating at a tip from which the wires extend, said straight converging lines and tapered length extending along a length greater than the principal strip width; additional dielectric material is in a central region along the length of the strip, said central region dielectric material encompassing the wires, whereby wire securement within the strip is reinforced and strip back surface irregularities due to the wires are minimized; and the tip having a width sufficiently narrow so that withdrawal of the strip electrode can begin without substantial incision, whereby the strip electrode is configured and dimensioned such that it may be completely withdrawn after extended implantation without entering general surgery. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification