Electrode cuffs

• US 8,880,192 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-David, Tamir, Gavish, Noam, Czaczkes, Tsachi
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US13/437,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 607115-156, 600373-392
• US Class Current: 607/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system

Abstract

An electrode assembly includes electrodes and a cuff, shaped so as to define a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, two edges, and a slit between the two edges. When the housing is closed, respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis, to which inner surface the electrodes are fixed. The cuff further defines three or more annular insulating elements that extend toward the axis from the inner surface of the housing at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, such that the inner surface of the housing and pairs of the insulating elements define, at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, respective chambers open toward the axis. The housing is shaped such that the contact surfaces of the two edges extend toward the axis and protrude into the chambers.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:

one or more electrodes; and

a cuff, which comprises an electrically insulating material, and which is shaped so as to define;

a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, the housing shaped so as to define two edges and a slit between the two edges, which slit and edges extend along an entire length of the cuff, wherein the housing is configured to assume (a) an open position, in which the two edges do not touch each other, and (b) a closed position, in which (i) respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and (ii) the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis, to which inner surface the electrodes are fixed, and

three or more annular insulating elements that extend toward the axis from the inner surface of the housing at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, such that, when the housing is in the closed position, the inner surface of the housing and pairs of the insulating elements are shaped so as to define, at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, respective chambers open toward the axis,

wherein the housing is shaped such that the contact surfaces of the two edges extend toward the axis and protrude into the chambers.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is shaped such that the slit and the edges extend parallel to the axis along the entire length of the cuff.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cuff is shaped such that the insulating elements and the contact surfaces extend to a same average distance from the axis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cuff is shaped such that a first average distance that the contact surfaces extend from the inner surface toward the axis is less than a second average distance that the insulating elements extend from the inner surface toward the axis.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is shaped such that an average distance that the first contact surfaces extend from the inner surface toward the axis is at least 0.6 mm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are shaped as partial rings, both when the housing is in the open position and when the housing is in the closed position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two of the insulating elements are disposed at respective longitudinal ends of the tubular housing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the entire length of the cuff is between 1 and 40 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the entire length of the cuff is between 5 and 20 mm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes is fixed to the inner surface within one of the chambers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cuff is shaped so as to be placeable around an elliptical cylinder having a major axis that is between 1 and 8 mm and a minor axis that is between 0.5 and 6 mm, and to assume the closed position when thus placed.

12. Apparatus comprising an electrode assembly, which comprises:

a cuff, which comprises an electrically insulating material, and which is shaped so as to define a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, the housing shaped so as to define two edges and a slit between the two edges, which slit and edges extend along an entire length of the cuff, wherein the housing is configured to assume (a) an open position, in which the two edges do not touch each other, and (b) a closed position, in which (i) respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and (ii) the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis; and

one or more electrodes, at least one of which comprises a strip of metal foil having two end portions and a central portion between the end portions,

wherein the central portion is disposed against the inner surface of the housing such that, when the housing is in the closed position, the central portion forms a partial ring around the axis that defines an exposed surface of the central portion, which exposed surface faces the axis, and

wherein at least one of the end portions is shaped so as to define a curved portion that is embedded in and completely surrounded by the insulating material, thereby fixing the end portion to the insulating material, the curved portion having an average radius of curvature that is less than 10% of a length of the central portion measured around the axis.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the average radius of curvature of the curved portion is less than 5% of the length of the central portion measured around the axis.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the housing is shaped such that the slit and the edges extend parallel to the axis along the entire length of the cuff.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the average radius of curvature of the curved portion is less than 1.5 mm.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the average radius of curvature of the curved portion is less than 0.5 mm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the strip of metal foil is shaped such that a direction of curvature of the curved portion is opposite a general direction of curvature of the central portion.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the curved portion is shaped so as to define an arc that subtends an angle of at least 90 degrees.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the angle is at least 180 degrees.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the angle is at least 270 degrees.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the angle is at least 360 degrees.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the curved portion, if straightened, would have a length of at least 1.5 mm, measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

23. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the curved portion, if straightened, would have a length equal to at least 5% of an entire length of the strip of metal, if straightened, which lengths are measured in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

24. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the two end portions is a first one of the two end portions, and wherein the curved portion is a first curved portion, and

wherein a second one of the two end portions is shaped so as to define a second curved portion that is embedded in and completely surrounded by the insulating material, thereby fixing the second end portion to the insulating material, the second curved portion having an average radius of curvature that is less than 10% of the length of the central portion measured around the axis.

25. A method comprising:

providing an electrode assembly that includes (1) one or more electrodes, and (2) a cuff, which comprises an electrically insulating material, and which is shaped so as to define (A) a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, the housing shaped so as to define two edges and a slit between the two edges, which slit and edges extend an entire length of the cuff, wherein the housing is configured to assume (a) an open position, in which the two edges do not touch each other, and (b) a closed position, in which (i) respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and (ii) the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis, to which inner surface the electrodes are fixed, and (B) three or more annular insulating elements that extend toward the axis from the inner surface of the housing at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, such that, when the housing is in the closed position, the inner surface of the housing and pairs of the insulating elements are shaped so as to define, at respective longitudinal positions along the housing, respective chambers open toward the axis, wherein the housing is shaped such that the contact surfaces of the two edges extend toward the axis and protrude into the chambers;

while the housing is in the open position, placing the cuff around tubular body tissue of a subject; and

coupling the cuff to the tubular body tissue by causing the housing to assume the closed position.

26. A method comprising:

providing an electrode assembly that includes (1) a cuff, which comprises an electrically insulating material, and which is shaped so as to define a tubular housing that defines a longitudinal axis therealong, the housing shaped so as to define two edges and a slit between the two edges, which slit and edges extend an entire length of the cuff, wherein the housing is configured to assume (a) an open position, in which the two edges do not touch each other, and (b) a closed position, in which (i) respective contact surfaces of the two edges touch each other, and (ii) the housing defines an inner surface that faces and surrounds the axis, and (2) one or more electrodes, at least one of which comprises a strip of metal foil having two end portions and a central portion between the end portions, wherein the central portion is disposed against the inner surface of the housing such that, when the housing is in the closed position, the central portion forms a partial ring around the axis that defines an exposed surface of the central portion, which exposed surface faces the axis, and wherein at least one of the end portions is shaped so as to define a curved portion that is embedded in and completely surrounded by the insulating material, thereby fixing the end portion to the insulating material, the curved portion having an average radius of curvature that is less than 10% of the length of the central portion measured around the axis;

while the housing is in the open position, placing the cuff around tubular body tissue of a subject; and

coupling the cuff to the tubular body tissue by causing the housing to assume the closed position.