Implantable therapeutic nerve stimulator
First Claim
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1. An implantable medical device comprising:
- an implantable device including a processor and a pulse generator;
a first lead having first and second ends, the first end of the lead operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device;
a first electrode operably and conductively coupled to the second end of the first lead, the first electrode having a first sharp tip for transmitting and focusing a stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site;
a discrete nonconductive barrier not integrally formed on the first sharp tip, said barrier having a major axis extending perpendicularly from a major axis of the first electrode, wherein said barrier is positionable between the first sharp tip and tissue, the barrier having a thickness capable of protecting the tissue from mechanical damage and capable of allowing the stimulation signal therethrough,wherein the barrier includes at least one through passage in a vicinity of the first sharp tip.
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Abstract
A medical device includes an implantable device having a processor, a pulse generator and a first lead having first and second ends. The first end of the lead is operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device. A first electrode is operably and conductively coupled to the second end of the first lead. The first electrode has a sharp tip for transmitting and focusing a stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device comprising:
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an implantable device including a processor and a pulse generator; a first lead having first and second ends, the first end of the lead operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device; a first electrode operably and conductively coupled to the second end of the first lead, the first electrode having a first sharp tip for transmitting and focusing a stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site; a discrete nonconductive barrier not integrally formed on the first sharp tip, said barrier having a major axis extending perpendicularly from a major axis of the first electrode, wherein said barrier is positionable between the first sharp tip and tissue, the barrier having a thickness capable of protecting the tissue from mechanical damage and capable of allowing the stimulation signal therethrough, wherein the barrier includes at least one through passage in a vicinity of the first sharp tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A medical device comprising:
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an implantable device including a pulse generator; and a plurality of electrodes operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device, at least a first electrode of the plurality electrodes having a sharp tip; a discrete nonconductive barrier not integrally formed on the sham tip, said barrier having a major axis extending perpendicularly from a major axis of the at least one electrode, wherein said barrier is positionable between the sharp tip and tissue, the barrier comprising a passage therethrough to allow direct passage of a stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering tissue stimulation comprising:
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generating an electrical stimulation signal from a signal generator of an implantable medical device; coupling a first electrode having a first sharp tip to the signal generator of the implantable medical device positioning a discrete insulative barrier between the first sharp tip of the first electrode and tissue; positioning the first sharp tip of the first electrode adjacent the discrete insulative barrier, the discrete insulative barrier not integrally formed on the first sharp tip, said barrier having a major axis extending perpendicularly from a major axis of the first electrode, wherein the barrier includes a passage therethrough; and transmitting the electrical stimulation signal from the first sharp tip through the passage directly into tissue adjacent the insulative barrier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An implantable medical device comprising:
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an implantable device including a processor and a pulse generator; a first lead having first and second ends, the first end of the lead operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device; a first electrode operably and conductively coupled to the second end of the first lead, the first electrode having a first sharp tip for transmitting and focusing a high voltage stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site, the voltage is in a range of about 1 kV to about 10 kV and the duration is in a range of about 10 ns to about 1000 ns; a discrete nonconductive barrier not integrally formed on the first sharp tip, said barrier having a major axis extending perpendicularly from a major axis of the first electrode, wherein said barrier is and positionable between the first sharp tip and tissue, the barrier having a thickness capable of protecting the tissue from mechanical damage and capable of allowing the stimulation signal therethrough, wherein the barrier includes at least one through passage in a vicinity of the first sharp tip.
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Specification