Medical electrode device having a non-gaseous fluid conductor
First Claim
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1. A medical electrode device comprising:
- an elongated insulating sleeve having a hollow interior channel extending longitudinally along a complete length of said sleeve;
a contact terminal disposed at a first end of said insulating sleeve and connectable to an implantable medical therapy apparatus;
said insulating sleeve having an exposed electrode surface at a second, opposite end of said sleeve; and
at least one electrical conductor consisting of non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid in said interior channel extending completely between and electrically connecting said contact terminal and said electrode surface.
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Abstract
A medical electrode device of the type suitable for delivering therapeutic electrical energy in vivo to tissue from an implanted pulse generator, includes a sleeve containing a conductor which is a non-metallic, non-gaseous fluid conductor. The non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid conductor may be a conductive gel or an electrolytic liquid.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A medical electrode device comprising:
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an elongated insulating sleeve having a hollow interior channel extending longitudinally along a complete length of said sleeve; a contact terminal disposed at a first end of said insulating sleeve and connectable to an implantable medical therapy apparatus; said insulating sleeve having an exposed electrode surface at a second, opposite end of said sleeve; and at least one electrical conductor consisting of non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid in said interior channel extending completely between and electrically connecting said contact terminal and said electrode surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 9. An electrode device as claimed in claim I wherein said non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid conductor comprises an electrolyte.
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16. An electrode device comprising:
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an insulating sleeve having an interior channel therein, said interior channel having an inner diameter; an insulating tube disposed in said interior channel of said sleeve, said insulating tube having an outer diameter which is smaller than said inner diameter of said interior channel and said insulating sleeve and said insulating tube being substantially coextensive so that an annular channel is formed between said insulating tube and said insulating sleeve, each of said insulating sleeve and said insulating tube having a first end and a second end; a contact terminal disposed at said first ends of said insulating tube and said insulating sleeve and connectable to an implantable medical therapy apparatus, and said second end of said insulating sleeve closing said annular channel; first and second electrode surfaces disposed at an exterior of said insulating sleeve; a first non-gaseous, non-metallic electrical conductor disposed in and extending along a complete length of said annular channel and electrically connecting said contact terminal to said first electrode surface; and a second non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid electrical conductor contained inside and extending along a complete length of said insulating tube and electrically connecting said contact terminal and said second electrode surface.
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17. A method for producing an electrical connection between a medical therapy apparatus and an in vivo site in a subject comprising the steps of:
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providing an insulating sleeve having a hollow channel therein; providing an electrode surface on said insulating sleeve at a first end of said sleeve; providing an electrical terminal at a second, opposite end of said sleeve; filling said interior channel of said insulating sleeve with a non-gaseous, non-metallic fluid conductor extending completely between said contact terminal and said electrode surface; and implanting said insulating sleeve and connecting said terminal to a medical therapy apparatus and disposing said electrode surface at said in vivo site. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification