Nerve cuff, method and apparatus for manufacturing same
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a nerve cuff, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a mold comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves;
(b) positioning one of a plurality of longitudinal conductors coated with insulation within each longitudinal groove;
(c) applying flexible bio-compatible material on the mold with the plurality of longitudinal conductors positioned therein;
(d) curing the flexible bio-compatible material so as to provide a wall band member with the plurality of longitudinal conductors adhered thereto;
(e) ejecting the wall band member with the adhered plurality of longitudinal conductors; and
(f) removing at least one portion of the insulation on the plurality of longitudinal conductors to provide electrodes, wherein each of the at least one portions is situated between a proximal end and a distal end of each longitudinal conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nerve cuff comprising a wall band member having an inner surface defining a lumen when the wall band member is in a closed configuration for receiving a nerve therethrough. At least one longitudinal and contiguous conductor extends within the lumen. The conductor is insulated and has at least one exposed portion thereby providing an electrode. When mounting the nerve cuff to a nerve, each electrode is in electrical communication with the nerve. A multi-channel nerve cuff further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the inner surface with each adjacent pair of ridges defining a longitudinal chamber. Each chamber comprises a respective conductor extending therein. When mounting the multi-channel nerve cuff to the nerve, the ridges abut the nerve providing for each chamber to isolate respective longitudinal portions of the nerve. A method and an apparatus for manufacturing such nerve cuffs are also disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a nerve cuff, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a mold comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves; (b) positioning one of a plurality of longitudinal conductors coated with insulation within each longitudinal groove; (c) applying flexible bio-compatible material on the mold with the plurality of longitudinal conductors positioned therein; (d) curing the flexible bio-compatible material so as to provide a wall band member with the plurality of longitudinal conductors adhered thereto; (e) ejecting the wall band member with the adhered plurality of longitudinal conductors; and (f) removing at least one portion of the insulation on the plurality of longitudinal conductors to provide electrodes, wherein each of the at least one portions is situated between a proximal end and a distal end of each longitudinal conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification