Electrode assembly for nerve stimulation
First Claim
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1. An electrode array for implantation on a patient'"'"'s nerve, comprising:
- first and second means for retention on the nerve, each retention means includinga flexible electrically insulative carrier having a Y-shaped configuration with the three legs of the Y stemming from a common juncture and curled about a common axis, anda flexible electrode secured to the underside of at least one of the legs of the Y, whereby the three legs hold the electrode on a nerve which substantially shares the common axis for stimulation of the nerve when the electrode is electrically energized; and
an elongate strip connecting the first and second retention means at the respective common junctures thereof at opposite ends of the strip, with the Y-shaped configurations oppositely directed from the strip substantially normal thereto about said common axis and separated from each other solely by the connecting strip and empty space.
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Abstract
A nerve electrode array includes one or more Y-shaped carriers in which the three legs of the Y are curled about a common axis with the lower leg of the Y oppositely directed relative to the other two so that the legs will encircle a nerve substantially sharing the common axis, and a flexible electrode secured to the underside of at least one of the legs.
440 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electrode array for implantation on a patient'"'"'s nerve, comprising:
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first and second means for retention on the nerve, each retention means including a flexible electrically insulative carrier having a Y-shaped configuration with the three legs of the Y stemming from a common juncture and curled about a common axis, and a flexible electrode secured to the underside of at least one of the legs of the Y, whereby the three legs hold the electrode on a nerve which substantially shares the common axis for stimulation of the nerve when the electrode is electrically energized; and an elongate strip connecting the first and second retention means at the respective common junctures thereof at opposite ends of the strip, with the Y-shaped configurations oppositely directed from the strip substantially normal thereto about said common axis and separated from each other solely by the connecting strip and empty space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electrode assembly for implantation on a nerve of a patient, comprising
resilient electrically insulative means for retaining the electrode assembly on the nerve, in the form of a first leg having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and second and third legs connected to said first leg at one end thereof and extending from the connection at opposite sides of said axis of symmetry in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first leg, said second and third legs diverging from each other at said connection on opposite sides of said axis of symmetry, said insulative means having a cylindrical configuration in a relaxed state with inside and outside surfaces and an axis normal to said axis of symmetry, so that the three legs will at least partly encircle the nerve from opposite directions for retention thereabout after implantation, and electrically conductive means secured to at least one of the legs at the inside surface of the cylindrical configuration as an electrode for electrical interaction with the nerve.
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8. An electrode assembly for installation on a patient'"'"'s nerve for electrical interaction therewith, comprising
first and second Y-shaped resilient electrical insulators fastened at the center of the respective Y to opposite ends and in the plane of an elongate electrically insulative connecting strip with the base leg of the Y of one insulator projecting in a direction opposite that of the base leg of the other insulator substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the strip, each of said insulators having a normal relaxed state in which the three legs of the Y are curled about a longitudinal axis of the assembly parallel to the orientation of the strip, and each insulator having an electrical conductor integral therewith and spaced from the insulator at the opposite end of the strip with no other intervening structure therebetween.
Specification