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 insulation member coupled to the second end portion of the passive electrical conductor, the insulation member 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.
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Citations
20 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 insulation member coupled to the second end portion of the passive electrical conductor, the insulation member 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 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 moving at least a portion of an insulation member relative to the proximal end portion of the conductive member after the inserting. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification