Tissue electrode for recording and stimulation
First Claim
1. An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact, the electrode comprising:
- (a) an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section, the electrode body further comprising a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissue-engaging members at an acute angle;
(b) a plurality of electrical contact areas along the tissue-engaging surface for making electrical contact with the tissue; and
(c) lead wires engaging the electrical contact areas and exiting the electrode body from a proximal end portionthe acute angle between the non-tissue-engaging surface and the tissue-engaging members being optimized to promote maximal contact between the tissue-engaging surface and the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact. The electrode consists of an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section with a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissue-engaging members at an acute angle. In one embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is substantially flat, and the electrode thus is a half-rhombus in cross-section. In a second embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is also a half-rhombus, so that the electrode is a rhombus in cross-section. An improved electrical connector for connecting lead wires from the electrode to external monitoring equipment is also disclosed. A device for inserting the electrode into body tissue is also disclosed, the device having a stylet pre-curved to conform to the tissue and a sheath surrounding the stylet for receiving the electrode.
109 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact, the electrode comprising:
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(a) an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section, the electrode body further comprising a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissue-engaging members at an acute angle; (b) a plurality of electrical contact areas along the tissue-engaging surface for making electrical contact with the tissue; and (c) lead wires engaging the electrical contact areas and exiting the electrode body from a proximal end portion the acute angle between the non-tissue-engaging surface and the tissue-engaging members being optimized to promote maximal contact between the tissue-engaging surface and the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact, the electrode comprising:
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(a) an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section, the electrode body further comprising a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissueengaging members at an acute angle; (b) a plurality of electrical contact areas along the tissue-engaging surface for making electrical contact with the tissue; (c) lead wires engaging the electrical contact areas and exiting the electrode body from a proximal end portion; and (d) a plurality of terminal contacts engaging the lead wires, the terminal contacts each having flat sides adapted to engage a flat-sided electrode connector the acute angle between the non-tissue-engaging surface and the tissue-engaging members being optimized to promote maximal contact between the tissue-engaging surface and the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification