Corrugated inter-fascicular nerve cuff method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A nerve cuff apparatus comprising:
- a substantially non-conductive cylindrical body portion adapted to encircle a nerve and including at least one corrugation; and
,at least one conductive segment disposed on said at least one corrugation of said body portion, capable of applying or recording electrical impulses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A corrugated sheet of non-conductive biocompatible material is biased to circumferentially contract around a nerve or other body tissue. Conductive members are disposed on inwardly projecting portions of the corrugated sheet formed into a cylinder around the nerve. The conductive segments are electrically conductive for applying or recording electrical impulses or fluid conductive for infusing medications or draining fluids from the nerve. The corrugated sheet, when wrapped around a nerve, is self-biased to slowly controllably contract to its original size. Over a period of a few days, electrodes disposed on the sheet corrugations become embedded in the nerve without damage to the perineurium membrane surrounding the nerve axons. The electrodes and corrugations displace the fascicles of the nerve rather than damaging them by piercing the perineurium membrane. The epineurium membrane is initially pierced but rejunivates around the contracted nerve cuff over time.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A nerve cuff apparatus comprising:
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a substantially non-conductive cylindrical body portion adapted to encircle a nerve and including at least one corrugation; and
,at least one conductive segment disposed on said at least one corrugation of said body portion, capable of applying or recording electrical impulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of installing a cylindrical cuff device onto an elongate nerve comprising the steps of:
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providing, as the cylindrical cuff device, a substantially planar sheet of a non-conductive material having at least one corrugation; encircling a nerve with the cylindrical cuff device; and
,piercing an epineurium membrane of said nerve with said cylindrical cuff device while simultaneously circumferentially contracting said cylindrical cuff device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A nerve cuff apparatus comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical corrugated body member adapted to encircle a nerve; and
,at least one conductive segment disposed on a corrugated segment of said corrugated body member, capable of applying or recording electrical impulses. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification