Multi-electrode neurological stimulation apparatus
First Claim
1. A case for an implanted neurological stimulator comprising:
- a main body having an exterior surface enclosing an interior volume;
a first wall subdividing the interior volume of the main body to form a main cavity and an inner chamber;
a second wall formed on the exterior surface of the main body, the second wall bounding at least a portion of the inner chamber;
a master circuitry case arranged within the main cavity;
at least one continuous lead connected to the master circuitry case in the main cavity and extending continuously from the main cavity to an area outside of the main body by making a first penetration through the first wall from the main cavity to the inner chamber and a second penetration through the second wall from the inner chamber to the area outside of the main body;
at least one first sealing means formed on the first wall for providing an environmentally occlusive seal for the first penetration of each lead through the first wall; and
at least one second sealing means formed on the second wall for providing an environmentally occlusive seal for the second penetration of each lead through the second wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable system for Functional Electro-Stimulation (FES) is disclosed which includes an environmentally sealed implant case and a nerve cuff for attaching to the nerve. A plurality of leads connect the nerve cuffs to the case. The implant case provides redundant seals for entrance of the leads in a double wall/double environmental seal to provide long term sealing reliability for the case. Inside the case, the wires in each lead attach to connectors, which establish contact with an enclosed master circuitry case. The connectors allow the leads to be individually removed and replaced, thereby providing a maintainable system.
At the other end of the leads is attached the nerve cuff. Each nerve cuff has a hollow, gapped cylindrical shape, and includes electrodes on its inner surface. The cuff is deformable to allow placement around the nerve, holding the electrodes in electrical contact therewith.
In other embodiments of the invention, the nerve cuff includes a micro circuit which is capable of demultiplexing stimulation signals from a single pair of wires in the lead to drive multiple electrodes. These embodiments reduce the number of wires needed in each lead to facilitate the stimulation of a large number of nerves with a single implant.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A case for an implanted neurological stimulator comprising:
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a main body having an exterior surface enclosing an interior volume; a first wall subdividing the interior volume of the main body to form a main cavity and an inner chamber; a second wall formed on the exterior surface of the main body, the second wall bounding at least a portion of the inner chamber; a master circuitry case arranged within the main cavity; at least one continuous lead connected to the master circuitry case in the main cavity and extending continuously from the main cavity to an area outside of the main body by making a first penetration through the first wall from the main cavity to the inner chamber and a second penetration through the second wall from the inner chamber to the area outside of the main body; at least one first sealing means formed on the first wall for providing an environmentally occlusive seal for the first penetration of each lead through the first wall; and at least one second sealing means formed on the second wall for providing an environmentally occlusive seal for the second penetration of each lead through the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An implant case for a neurological stimulator comprising:
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a master circuitry case; at least one conductive output pin on the master circuitry case; a first case portion adapted to receive the master circuitry case; a second case portion mated to the first case portion; means for releasably securing the first and second case portions together; at least one lead entering the second case portion, each lead containing at least one wire, each wire having a first end adapted for attachment to a nerve; connector means associated with each output pin on the master circuitry case, each connector means being located on an inner side of the second case portion facing the master circuitry case in the first case portion, and each connector means being adapted to receive a second end of one of said wires for connection to the master circuitry case, such that when the first and second case portions are secured together, each output pin mates with the associated connector means, forming electrical contact between each output pin and the second end of the wire received by the associated connector means. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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Specification