System and method for percutaneous delivery of electrical stimulation to a target body tissue

• US 8,483,820 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Zilberman, Yitzhak, Glukhovsky, Arkady, McHargue, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US11/867,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

An apparatus includes a percutaneous connection port configured to convey an electrical signal between an electrical device disposed outside of a body and an electrical member disposed within the body. The percutaneous connection port has a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion includes a surface configured to be accessible from a region of the body. The distal portion includes an anchor configured to be disposed within the body. The anchor has a curved shape about an axis substantially parallel to a skin of the body.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an electrical device configured to be disposed outside of a body, the electrical device configured to at least produce or receive an electrical signal;

a passive electrical conductor configured to be disposed entirely within the body, a distal end of the passive electrical conductor including a plurality of electrodes configured to be disposed adjacent a target tissue within the body; and

a connection port configured to convey the electrical signal between the electrical device and the electrical member, the connection port configured to be percutaneously inserted into the body such that a proximal portion of the connection port is disposed outside of the body and a distal portion of the connection port is disposed within the body, the connection port including a plurality of distinct electrical pathways, each electrical pathway from the plurality of electrical pathways configured to be in electrical communication with a corresponding electrode from the plurality of electrodes,

the proximal portion of the connection port configured to be operatively coupled to the electrical device, the distal portion of the connection port configured to be spaced apart from the electrical member, the distal end portion of the connection port is operatively coupled to the electrical member by at least one of a galvanic coupling, a capacitive coupling or an inductive coupling.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is at least one of an electrical stimulator or a electrical signal processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the electrical member is a passive electrical conductor, a distal end of the passive electrical conductor including a plurality of electrodes configured to be disposed adjacent a target tissue within the body; and

the connection port includes a plurality of distinct electrical pathways, each electrical pathway from the plurality of electrical pathways configured to be in electrical communication with a corresponding electrode from the plurality of electrodes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical member is any one of a sensor, an amplifier, a power supply, a high voltage generator, a current generator, a switch, a battery charging circuit, an electronic filter, or a processor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the connection port includes an electrical conductor having an impedance less than an impedance of a skin.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the stimulator is configured to produce a bi-polar electrical stimulation signal; and

the connection port includes a plurality of distinct electrical pathways configured to convey the bi-polar stimulation signal to the passive electrical member.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the proximal end of the connection port is configured to extend above a surface of a skin; and

the distal end of the connection port includes an anchor configured to be disposed subcutaneously within the body and to limit movement of the connection port within the body.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a surface electrode configured to be coupled to a surface of a skin of the body, the surface electrode configured to be coupled to the stimulator.

9. A system, comprising:

a stimulator configured to produce an electrical stimulation signal;

an implant configured to be disposed within the body, the implant having a first terminal portion, a second terminal portion and a conductor therebetween, the second terminal portion configured to convey the electrical stimulation signal to a target tissue; and

a connection port configured to be disposed at least partially within the body such that a proximal portion of the connection port is accessible from a region outside of the body and a distal portion of the connection port is disposed within the body, the connection port including an outer portion configured to contact a skin, the outer portion constructed from a material configured to promote bonding of the skin to the outer portion,

the proximal portion of the connection port configured to be coupled to the stimulator, the distal portion of the connection port configured to be electrically coupled to and spaced apart from the first terminal portion of the implant.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the electrical stimulation signal is a first electrical stimulation signal from a plurality of electrical stimulation signals produced by the stimulator;

the second terminal portion of the implant includes a plurality of electrodes, each electrode from the plurality of electrodes configured to convey an electrical stimulation signal from the plurality of electrical stimulation signals to a portion of the target tissue; and

the connection port includes a plurality of distinct electrical pathways configured to convey each electrical stimulation signal from the plurality of electrical stimulation signals to the implant.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the proximal end of the connection port is configured to extend above a surface of a skin; and

the distal end of the connection port includes an anchor configured to be disposed subcutaneously within the body and to limit movement of the connection port within the body.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second terminal portion of the implant includes an electrode configured to at least partially engage the target tissue.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a surface electrode configured to be coupled to a surface of a skin of the body, the surface electrode configured to be coupled to the stimulator.

14. A system, comprising:

an electrical device configured to be disposed outside of a body, the electrical device configured to at least produce or receive an electrical signal;

a passive electrical conductor configured to be disposed entirely within the body, a distal end of the passive electrical conductor including a plurality of electrodes configured to be disposed adjacent a target tissue within the body; and

a connection port configured to convey the electrical signal between the electrical device and the passive electrical conductor, the connection port configured to be percutaneously inserted into the body such that a proximal portion of the connection port is disposed outside of the body and a distal portion of the connection port is disposed within the body, the connection port including a plurality of distinct electrical pathways,

the proximal portion of the connection port configured to be operatively coupled to the electrical device, the distal portion of the connection port configured to be operatively coupled to and spaced apart from the passive electrical conductor such that each electrical pathway from the plurality of electrical pathways is in electrical communication with a corresponding electrode from the plurality of electrodes.

15. A system, comprising:

a stimulator disposed outside of a body, the stimulator configured to produce a bi-polar electrical stimulation signal;

an electrical member configured to be disposed within the body; and

a connection port including a plurality of distinct electrical pathways through which the bi-polar electrical signal can be conveyed between the stimulator and the electrical member, the connection port configured to be percutaneously disposed into the body such that a proximal portion of the connection port is accessible from a region outside of the body and a distal portion of the connection port is disposed within the body,

the proximal portion of the connection port configured to be coupled to the stimulator, the distal portion of the connection port configured to be electrically coupled to and spaced apart from the electrical member.