Implant system and method using implanted passive conductors for routing electrical current
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a passive electrical conductor having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a stimulation electrode, the second end portion including a pick-up electrode, the passive electrical conductor configured to be disposed within a body such that the stimulation electrode is disposed adjacent a target tissue and the pick-up electrode is entirely beneath a surface of a skin; and
an insulating backing coupled to the second end portion of the passive electrical conductor, the insulating backing configured to define, at least in part, a current pathway within the body along which a portion of an electrical current flows between a surface electrode coupled to the surface of the skin and the pick-up electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides improvements to an implant, system and method using passive electrical conductors which route electrical current to either external or implanted electrical devices, to multiple target body tissues and to selective target body tissues. The passive electrical conductor extends from subcutaneous tissue located below either a surface cathodic electrode or a surface anodic electrode a) to a target tissue to route electrical signals from the target body tissue to devices external to the body; b) to implanted electrical devices to deliver electrical current to such devices, or c) to multiple target body tissues or to selective target body tissues to stimulate the target body tissues. The conductor has specialized ends for achieving such purposes.
156 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a passive electrical conductor having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a stimulation electrode, the second end portion including a pick-up electrode, the passive electrical conductor configured to be disposed within a body such that the stimulation electrode is disposed adjacent a target tissue and the pick-up electrode is entirely beneath a surface of a skin; and an insulating backing coupled to the second end portion of the passive electrical conductor, the insulating backing configured to define, at least in part, a current pathway within the body along which a portion of an electrical current flows between a surface electrode coupled to the surface of the skin and the pick-up electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system, comprising:
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an electronic device configured to be disposed outside of a body, the electronic device configured to at least produce or receive an electrical signal; an electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic device, the electrode configured to be coupled to the surface of a skin of the body; and an electrically conductive member configured to be disposed entirely within the body such that a proximal end portion of the electrically conductive member is disposed below the electrode, the electrically conductive member configured to convey at least a portion of the electrical signal between the proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion of the electrically conductive member including an insulative backing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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inserting a conductive member within a body such that a stimulating electrode disposed at a distal end portion of the conductive member is adjacent a target tissue within the body and a pick-up electrode disposed at a proximal end portion of the conductive member is beneath a surface of a skin of the body; and positioning at least a portion of an insulative backing relative to the pick-up electrode such that the insulative backing defines, at least in part, a portion of a current pathway through which a current from a surface electrode can be directed from the surface electrode to the pick-up electrode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method, comprising:
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inserting a conductive member within a body such that a stimulating electrode disposed at a distal end portion of the conductive member is adjacent a target tissue within the body and a pick-up electrode disposed at a proximal end portion of the conductive member is beneath a surface of a skin of the body; coupling a surface electrode to the surface of the skin such that at least a portion of the pick-up electrode is below the surface electrode; and defining at least a portion of a current pathway within the body such that a portion of an electrical current produced by the surface electrode is directed towards the pick-up electrode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus, comprising:
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a passive electrical conductor having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a first electrical termination, the second end portion including a second electrical termination, the passive electrical conductor being insulated between the first end portion and the second end portion, the passive electrical conductor configured to be disposed within a body such that the first electrical termination is disposed adjacent a target tissue and the second electrical termination is beneath a surface of a skin; and a backing member coupled to the second end portion of the passive electrical conductor, the backing member configured to direct a portion of a transcutaneous current produced by an electrode coupled to the surface of the skin to the second electrical termination. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification