Low-pressure neural contact structure
First Claim
1. A low-pressure neural contact structure for contact with neural tissue, comprising:
- a first portion for anchoring said neural contact structure to a bodily location, anda second portion adapted to contact said neural tissue, said second portion interconnected with said first portion via an interconnection easily conforming to contours in said neural tissue to exhibit a weak restoring force in response to curvature of the interconnection to provide a desired pressure of contact of said second portion against said neural tissue of below 10 mm mercury, the desired pressure sufficient to permit stimulation of the neural tissue without damage to said neural tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-pressure neural contact structure for contact with neural tissue, for example, neural tissue of the retina within which are ganglion cells to be electrically stimulated. The contact structure comprises a first portion for attachment to a first bodily location, such as the inner surface of the retina, and a second portion interconnected with the first portion via an interconnection and being held in contact with the neural tissue. The interconnection exhibits a weak restoring force which in conjunction with the geometry of said second portion provides a preselected desired pressure of contact against the neural tissue. As adapted for the retina, the interconnection exhibits a weak restoring force developed in response to curvature of the interconnection along the inner radius of the retina.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A low-pressure neural contact structure for contact with neural tissue, comprising:
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a first portion for anchoring said neural contact structure to a bodily location, and a second portion adapted to contact said neural tissue, said second portion interconnected with said first portion via an interconnection easily conforming to contours in said neural tissue to exhibit a weak restoring force in response to curvature of the interconnection to provide a desired pressure of contact of said second portion against said neural tissue of below 10 mm mercury, the desired pressure sufficient to permit stimulation of the neural tissue without damage to said neural tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A neural contact structure for contact with neural tissue, comprising:
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a first portion for anchoring to a location on the neural tissue; an elongated element extending from the first portion and easily conforming to contours in a surface of the neural tissue to exhibit a weak restoring force in response to curvature of the elongated element to provide a pressure to the surface no greater than 10 mm mercury, the pressure sufficient to permit stimulation of the neural tissue without damage to said neural tissue. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification