Slowly penetrating inter-fascicular nerve cuff electrode and method of using
First Claim
1. A method of inserting a first member into an elongate nerve encased in an epineurium membrane and including at least one longitudinally extending group of axons surrounded by a perineurium membrane forming a fascicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- piercing said epineurium membrane with said first member; and
,gradually radially urging said first member through said epineurium membrane and into said nerve avoiding said perineurium membrane over a predefined time period.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-curling sheet of a non-conductive material is biased to curl into a tight cylinder. Inwardly extending conductive members are disposed on the surface of the sheet forming the inside of the cylinder. Circumferentially separated longitudinal slices are made in the cylinder adjacent the conductive members forming spring members such that, as the sheet relaxes over time, the electrodes on the spring members engage and pierce a nerve surrounded by the cuff. The conductive segments may be electrically conductive for applying electrical impulses or fluid conductive for infusing medications. In use, a first edge of the self-curling sheet is disposed adjacent a nerve trunk which is to receive the cuff therearound. The self-curling sheet is controllably permitted to curl around the nerve into its original cylindrical shape. Over a period of a few days, electrodes riding on spring members formed by longitudinal slices into the cylinder are embedded in the nerve without damage to the perineurium membrane surrounding the nerve axons. The electrodes displace the fascicles rather than damaging them by piercing the perineurium.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of inserting a first member into an elongate nerve encased in an epineurium membrane and including at least one longitudinally extending group of axons surrounded by a perineurium membrane forming a fascicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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piercing said epineurium membrane with said first member; and
,gradually radially urging said first member through said epineurium membrane and into said nerve avoiding said perineurium membrane over a predefined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of inserting a first member into an elongate nerve encased in an epineurium membrane and including at least one longitudinally extending group of axons surrounded by a perineurium membrane forming a fascicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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piercing said epineurium membrane with a first portion of said first member, the first portion being adapted for blunt piercing; and
,radially urging said member through said epineurium membrane and into said nerve avoiding said perineurium membrane. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. For use with an elongate nerve having several groups of longitudinally extending fascicles, each group surrounded by a perineurium membrane, a method of nerve electrode insertion comprising the steps of:
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radially inserting a first electrode into said nerve at a first longitudinal position; and
,simultaneously applying a first force on said nerve at said first longitudinal position, the first force substantially opposing a force on said nerve generated by said radially inserting step. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable cuff comprising:
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a self-curling sheet adapted to encircle body tissue, the sheet including a first resiliently extensible layer and a second layer bonded to the first layer such that it tends to maintain an interface between the first and second layers extended, such that resilient contractive forces of the first layer bias the sheet to curl into an elongate non-conductive cylindrical sleeve; and
,at least one conductive segment on the self-curling sheet adapted to pierce said body tissue, the conductive segment radially inwardly extending from the self-curling sheet when curled into the elongate cylindrical sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An interfascicular nerve electrode comprising:
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a body member adapted on a first surface to engage an associated external nerve; a conductive member on the body member; and
,displacing means on said body member for displacing the conductive member into said associated external nerve. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A nerve electrode comprising:
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a body member; attachment means for attaching the body member to an associated external nerve; a conductive member on the body member; and
,means for displacing the conductive member to be within said associated external nerve. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of inserting a first member into a nerve surrounded by an epineurium membrane and including at least one fascicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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piercing said epineurium membrane with said first member; and
,gradually moving said first member through said epineurium membrane over a predetermined time period while avoiding said fascicle. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A nerve electrode comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body member formed of a resiliently deformable elastomeric material and adapted to receive an elongate nerve therein; at least two circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally extending slits defined in said body member to form a resiliently deformable spring member; at least one piercing member on said resiliently deformable spring member, the at least one piercing member including a portion adapted to penetrate the elongate nerve; and
,at least one conductive member on said at least one piercing member. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of manufacturing a nerve electrode comprising:
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providing a substantially cylindrical body member formed of a resiliently deformable elastomeric material and adapted to receive an elongate nerve therein; forming at least two circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally extending slits in said body member to define a resiliently deformable spring member; disposing at least one piercing member on said resiliently deformable spring member, the at least one piercing member including a portion adapted to enter into the elongate nerve; and
,providing at least one conductive member on said at least one piercing member. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification