Implantable cuff having improved closure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable cuff comprising:
- (a) a flexible tubular cuff member having a longitudinal slit extending through a wall thereof, said slit having first and second edges; and
(b) a closure associated with said slit, said closure comprising;
(i) two or more spaced apart first apertured members affixed to said cuff member at said first edge, said first apertured members having apertures aligned generally with said slit; and
(ii) a second apertured member interdigitated between two of said first apertured members and affixed to said cuff member at said second edge, said second apertured member having an aperture aligned generally with said slit(c) retaining means for maintaining said closure closed with at least one said second apertured member interdigitated between said first apertured members.
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Abstract
An implantable cuff having an improved closure is disclosed. The closure has a set of small interdigitated tubes lying along the edges of a longitudinal slit opening in the cuff. A rod-like locking member is inserted through the interdigitated tubes to lock the cuff closed. A flexible flap attached to the inside of the cuff electrically and mechanically isolates the interior of the cuff from the exterior. The cuff has particular application as a nerve cuff for recording electrical nerve activity and for electrically stimulating nerves.
291 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An implantable cuff comprising:
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(a) a flexible tubular cuff member having a longitudinal slit extending through a wall thereof, said slit having first and second edges; and (b) a closure associated with said slit, said closure comprising; (i) two or more spaced apart first apertured members affixed to said cuff member at said first edge, said first apertured members having apertures aligned generally with said slit; and (ii) a second apertured member interdigitated between two of said first apertured members and affixed to said cuff member at said second edge, said second apertured member having an aperture aligned generally with said slit (c) retaining means for maintaining said closure closed with at least one said second apertured member interdigitated between said first apertured members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for releasably enclosing a section of internal body tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) surgically separating said section of internal body tissue from surrounding tissues; (b) providing a tubular cuff comprising (i) a flexible tubular cuff member having a longitudinal slit extending through a wall thereof, said slit having first and second edges; and (ii) a closure associated with said slit, said closure comprising; (A) a pair of spaced apart first apertured members affixed to said cuff member at said first edge, said first aperture members having apertures aligned generally with said slit; (B) a second apertured member interdigitated between said first apertured members and affixed to said cuff member at said second edge, said second apertured member having an aperture aligned generally with said slit; and (C) an elongated locking member inserted to extend through said apertures of said first apertured members and said second apertured member when said second apertured member is interdigitated with said first apertured members; (c) opening said cuff by drawing said first and second edges of said slit apart; (d) placing said section of internal body tissue in said cuff; (e) closing said cuff by interdigitating said second apertured member between two of said first apertured members; and (f) securing said cuff around said internal body tissues by passing a locking member through said apertures in said first and second apertured members. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification