Method and apparatus for selectively inhibiting activity in nerve fibers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively blocking activity of a nerve in an animal by application of electric current, said apparatus comprising:
- an anode having a first surface with an electrically conductive first area for contacting the nerve;
an cathode having a second surface with an electrically conductive second area for contacting the nerve, wherein the second area is at least six times greater in size than the first area so that density of current conducted between the cathode and the nerve is much less than the density of current conducted between the anode and the nerve;
a signal generator which produces a direct current blocking polarization signal at positive and negative output terminals; and
conductors which connect the anode to the positive output terminal and the cathode to the negative output terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Activity in different fibers of a nerve in an animal can be selectively blocked by applying direct electric current between an anode and a cathode attached to the nerve. The anode has base of silver foil with a tough shaped portion which has a first curved region coated with silver/silver chloride for contacting the nerve. The cathode includes a silver foil base which also has a tough shaped portion with a second curved region coated with silver/silver chloride for contacting the nerve. The second region is at least six times greater in area than the first region, so that the density of current conducted between the cathode and the nerve is significantly less than the current density at the anode. A signal generator produces a direct current stimulation signal between positive and negative output terminals that are connected respectively to the anode and cathode.
606 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively blocking activity of a nerve in an animal by application of electric current, said apparatus comprising:
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an anode having a first surface with an electrically conductive first area for contacting the nerve; an cathode having a second surface with an electrically conductive second area for contacting the nerve, wherein the second area is at least six times greater in size than the first area so that density of current conducted between the cathode and the nerve is much less than the density of current conducted between the anode and the nerve; a signal generator which produces a direct current blocking polarization signal at positive and negative output terminals; and conductors which connect the anode to the positive output terminal and the cathode to the negative output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for selectively blocking activity in specific types of fibers within a nerve in an animal by application of electric current, said apparatus comprising:
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an anode having base with a first surface which has a first area for contacting the nerve, the first area is coated with an electrically conductive material; an cathode having base with a second surface which has a second area for contacting the nerve, the second area is coated with an electrically conductive material, and wherein the second area is at least six times greater in size than the first area so that density of current conducted between the cathode and the nerve is much less than the density of current conducted between the anode and the nerve; a signal generator which produces a direct current blocking polarization signal at positive and negative output terminals; and conductors which connect the anode to the positive output terminal and the cathode to the negative output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, for selectively blocking activity in specific types of fibers within a nerve of an animal, said method comprising steps of:
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attaching an anode to the nerve thereby forming a first area of nerve contact; attaching an cathode to the nerve thereby forming a second area of nerve contact, wherein the second area is at least six times greater in size than the first area; and applying a direct current blocking polarization signal between the anode and the cathode, whereby density of current conducted between the cathode and the nerve is at least one-sixth the density of current conducted between the anode and the nerve, because of difference in sizes of the first and second areas. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification