Cuff electrode arrangement for nerve stimulation and methods of treating disorders

• US 7,596,414 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Whitehurst, Todd K., Jaax, Kirsten N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, YUN H
• Application Number:
  US11/294,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 607/118
• US Class Current: 607/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

One embodiment is a stimulator arrangement for a nerve. The stimulator arrangement includes a cuff for placement around the nerve and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the cuff. The cuff comprises a first edge and defines a plurality of indentations along the first edge of the cuff. The stimulator arrangement may also include a stimulator unit coupled to the electrodes of the cuff. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

Claims

1. A stimulator arrangement for a nerve, comprising:

a cuff configured and arranged to be placed around the nerve, the cuff comprising a curved portion, a flat portion, the flat portion extending away from the nerve, a first part having a first edge and defining a plurality of indentations along the first edge of the cuff; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the cuff.

2. The stimulator arrangement of claim 1, wherein a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along the first edge.

3. The stimulator arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cuff further comprises a second part having a second edge opposing the first edge of the first part, the second edge defining a plurality of indentations along the second edge.

4. The stimulator arrangement of claim 3, wherein the indentations of the first and second edges interdigitate.

5. The stimulator arrangement of claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises alternating anodes and cathodes defined by the interdigitated indentations of the first and second edges.

6. The stimulator arrangement of claim 3, wherein a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along the first edge and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along the second edge.

7. The stimulator arrangement of claim 3, wherein a first plurality of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along the first edge.

8. The stimulator arrangement of claim 3, wherein a second plurality of the plurality of electrodes is disposed along the second edge.

9. The stimulator arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a stimulator unit coupled to the plurality of electrodes.

15. A method of stimulating a nerve, the method comprising:

providing the stimulator arrangement of claim 1;

disposing the cuff of the stimulator arrangement around the nerve coupling the cuff to a stimulator unit; and

providing electrical signals from the stimulator unit to the electrodes of the cuff to stimulate the nerve.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the nerve is a vagus nerve and disposing the cuff around the nerve comprises disposing the cuff around the vagus nerve.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the nerve comprises a cavernous nerve and disposing the cuff around the nerve comprises disposing the cuff around a neurovascular bundle comprising the vagus nerve.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising implanting the stimulator unit in a portion of the body separated from the nerve.

10. A stimulator arrangement for a nerve, comprising:

a cuff comprising a first curved portion configured and arranged to be disposed over a first portion of the nerve, a second flat portion configured and arranged to be disposed over a second portion of the nerve opposite the first portion, and a third flat portion extending away from the nerve; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the cuff.

11. The stimulator arrangement of claim 10, further comprising a stimulator unit coupled to the plurality of electrodes to provide electrical signals to the plurality of electrodes.

12. The stimulator arrangement of claim 10, wherein the second flat portion comprises a first edge having indentations formed along the first edge.

13. The stimulator arrangement of claim 10, wherein the second flat portion comprises a first part comprising the first edge and a second part comprising a second edge that opposes the first edge and has indentations formed along the second edge.

14. The stimulator arrangement of claim 13, wherein the indentation of the first edge are interdigitated with the indentations of the second edge.