Electrode devices with resistive elements

• US 8,494,655 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Ayal, Shai, Cohen, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US13/271,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 607/118
• US Class Current: 607/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve. A cathode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a cathodic longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a cathodic current to the nerve. A primary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a primary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a primary anodal current to the nerve. A secondary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a secondary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a secondary anodal current to the nerve, the secondary anodal longitudinal site being closer to the primary anodal longitudinal site than to the cathodic longitudinal site.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, which is configured to be placed around the nerve;

a plurality of electrodes, which are coupled to the housing at respective longitudinal sites along the housing, and which comprise a plurality of anodes and a cathode, wherein the plurality of anodes comprises at least two anodes disposed on a first longitudinal side of the cathode, and at least one anode disposed on a second longitudinal side of the cathode;

a control unit, which is configured to drive the anodes to apply respective anodal currents to the nerve, and the cathode to apply a cathodic current to the nerve;

an electrical lead, which couples the control unit to the electrodes; and

a set of resistors, which electrically link the electrical lead to respective ones of the electrodes, and which are disposed outside of the control unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the resistors has a greater resistance than that of a second one of the resistors.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical lead is a first electrical lead, and further comprising a second electrical lead that electrically links the control unit to the cathode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first electrical lead comprises exactly one electrical lead that leaves the control unit.

5. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, which is configured to be placed around the nerve;

a plurality of electrodes, which are coupled to the housing at respective longitudinal sites along the housing, and which comprise a cathode, a secondary anode, and a primary anode disposed longitudinally between the cathode and the secondary anode,

a control unit, which is configured to drive the primary and secondary anodes to apply respective anodal currents to the nerve, and the cathode to apply a cathodic current to the nerve;

an electrical lead, which couples the control unit to the electrodes; and

a set of resistors, which electrically link the electrical lead to respective ones of the electrodes, and which are disposed outside of the control unit,

wherein a first one of the resistors is coupled between the control unit and the primary anode, and a second one of the resistors is coupled between the control unit and the secondary anode, and

wherein the second one of the resistors has a greater resistance than that of the first one of the resistors.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrodes further comprises a fiber-selection anode, disposed such that the cathode is longitudinally between the fiber-selection anode and the primary anode, and wherein the set of resistors further comprises a third resistor, which is coupled between the control unit and the fiber-selection anode.