Wireless neurostimulators

• US 10,653,888 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BlueWind Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BlueWind Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Oron, Guri, Gross, Yossi, Neeman, Danny, Ronen, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bays, Pamela M.
• Application Number:
  US15/638,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20170296426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 607 60
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

A subcutaneous implant, including: (a) a circuitry unit having a first end, a second end, a conducting lateral side, and an opposing lateral side; (b) a first electrode, disposed on an outer surface of the circuitry unit and laterally circumscribing the circuitry unit at the first end; (c) a second electrode, disposed on the outer surface of the circuitry unit and laterally circumscribing the circuitry unit at the second end; (d) circuitry, disposed within the circuitry unit, and configured to be wirelessly powered to drive an electrical current between the electrodes; and (e) an insulating member, disposed on the opposing lateral side such that, on the opposing lateral side, each electrode is sandwiched between the insulating member and the circuitry unit, and the insulating member inhibits electrical conduction from the electrodes into the tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with tissue of a subject, the apparatus comprising a subcutaneous implant, the subcutaneous implant comprising:

a circuitry unit having a first end, a second end, a conducting lateral side, and an opposing lateral side, and defining a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends;

a first electrode, disposed on an outer surface of the circuitry unit and laterally circumscribing the circuitry unit at the first end;

a second electrode, disposed on the outer surface of the circuitry unit and laterally circumscribing the circuitry unit at the second end;

circuitry, disposed within the circuitry unit, and configured to be wirelessly powered to drive an electrical current between the first and second electrodes; and

an insulating member, disposed on the opposing lateral side of the circuitry unit such that, on the opposing lateral side, each electrode is covered by a laterally-inner part of the insulating member by being sandwiched between the laterally-inner part of the insulating member and the circuitry unit, and the laterally-inner part of the insulating member inhibits electrical conduction from the electrodes into the tissue,

wherein;

laterally-outer parts of the insulating member extend laterally outward away from the laterally-inner part of the insulating member and from the circuitry unit to define;

a first lateral zone along a first lateral edge of the circuitry unit, the first lateral zone extending laterally outward away from the circuitry unit, and

a second lateral zone along a second lateral edge of the circuitry unit, the second lateral zone extending laterally outward away from the circuitry unit, and

no electrodes of the implant are disposed in the first lateral zone or the second lateral zone.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the implant does not comprise a power supply that is able to continuously power the implant for a period greater than one minute.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the implant is configured such that the driving of the electrical current does not induce contraction of a muscle of the subject.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit, configured to transmit wireless power, and wherein the implant is configured to receive the wireless power.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the implant is configured to apply the treatment in response to receiving the wireless power.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the implant is configured to apply the treatment only when the implant receives the wireless power.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry unit has a prismatic shape that has a length, from the first end to the second end, of 5-50 mm.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the length of the circuitry unit is 10-30 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry unit is 1-5 mm in width.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the circuitry unit is 1.5-3 mm in width.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of each lateral zone is greater than 1 mm.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a width of each lateral zone is greater than 2 mm.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a width of each lateral zone is greater than 5 mm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member comprises insulating silicone.