Helical nerve electrode
First Claim
1. A nerve electrode array comprising:
- an electrically conductive filament,an electrically insulative carrier having a plurality of loops in a helical array, at least one of said loops encompassing said filament, andconnecting means securing said plurality of loops together to substantially maintain the helical array configuration thereof,each of said loops having a cut therethrough away from said connecting means to allow each loop to be opened independently of the other loops of the array, the cuts in said loops being staggered relative to one another lengthwise of said array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nerve electrode array includes one or more spiral electrically conductive filament bands each secured within a different electrically insulative loop among a plurality of loops configured in a helical array. Each loop is severed lengthwise of the array to allow it to be spread open independently of the other loops to partly encircle the nerve during surgical mounting thereon. The array is held together in the helical configuration by a linking member which intersects with and is fastened to each of the spaced-apart loops. Each filament band extends within its loop across the intersection of the loop and linking member. In one embodiment, the cuts through the loops are aligned lengthwise of the helical array and substantially parallel to the linking member, and each cut is approximately diametrically opposite the linking member. In another embodiment, the cuts through the loops are staggered relative to the linking member, lengthwise of the array. With the electrode array mounted on the nerve, the filament bands are positioned to electrically interact with the nerve to detect signals carried by the nerve and/or to electrically stimulate the nerve.
536 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A nerve electrode array comprising:
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an electrically conductive filament, an electrically insulative carrier having a plurality of loops in a helical array, at least one of said loops encompassing said filament, and connecting means securing said plurality of loops together to substantially maintain the helical array configuration thereof, each of said loops having a cut therethrough away from said connecting means to allow each loop to be opened independently of the other loops of the array, the cuts in said loops being staggered relative to one another lengthwise of said array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrode for attachment to a nerve of a patient, said electrode comprising:
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a plurality of spaced-apart spiral bands coupled together by a backbone in a helix, each of said bands being incomplete to allow them to be spread open independently of one another to partly encircle the nerve, the incompleteness of the bands being staggered relative to said backbone lengthwise of said helix, and electrode filament means secured in at least one of said bands for electrical interaction with the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrode for implantation on a nerve of a patient, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced-apart, generally parallel, resilient bands joined together by and skewed relative to a resilient backbone to form a generally helical configuration, each of said bands being incomplete to allow them to be spread open independently of one another to partly encircle the nerve, the incompleteness of the bands being staggered relative to said backbone lengthwise of the helical configuration, electrode filament means secured in at least one of said bands for electrical interaction with the nerve, and a lead wire electrically connected to the filament means on said at least one band at a point away from said backbone. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification