Construction of electrode assembly for nerve control
First Claim
1. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
- a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve;
first, second, and third electrodes, fixed to the housing at first, second, and third longitudinal sites of the housing, respectively, such that the first, second, and third electrodes do not come in direct physical contact with the nerve, the second site being between the first and third sites, the second electrode having an electrode surface axial length; and
first and second internal insulating elements, fixed to the housing between the first and second longitudinal sites, and between the second and third longitudinal sites, respectively, the first and second internal insulating elements shaped so as to define, upon placement of the housing, a nerve axial distance between the first and second internal insulating elements that is less than the electrode surface axial length.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing that is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. First, second, and third electrodes are fixed to the housing at first, second, and third longitudinal sites of the housing, respectively. The first, second, and third electrodes do not come in direct physical contact with the nerve. The second site is between the first and third sites. The second electrode has an electrode surface axial length. The apparatus also includes first and second internal insulating elements, which are fixed to the housing between the first and second longitudinal sites, and between the second and third longitudinal sites, respectively. The first and second internal insulating elements are shaped so as to define, upon placement of the housing, a nerve axial distance between the first and second internal insulating elements that is less than the electrode surface axial length.
171 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve;
first, second, and third electrodes, fixed to the housing at first, second, and third longitudinal sites of the housing, respectively, such that the first, second, and third electrodes do not come in direct physical contact with the nerve, the second site being between the first and third sites, the second electrode having an electrode surface axial length; and
first and second internal insulating elements, fixed to the housing between the first and second longitudinal sites, and between the second and third longitudinal sites, respectively, the first and second internal insulating elements shaped so as to define, upon placement of the housing, a nerve axial distance between the first and second internal insulating elements that is less than the electrode surface axial length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve;
at least one electrode, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve, the at least one electrode having an electrode surface axial length; and
two end insulating elements, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements, the end insulating elements shaped so as to define, upon placement of the housing, a nerve axial distance between the end insulating elements that is less than the electrode surface axial length. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve;
at least one electrode, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve; and
two end insulating elements, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements, wherein at least one of the end insulating elements is shaped so as to define a rough surface that is adapted to be in physical contact with the nerve when the housing is placed in the vicinity of the nerve.
-
-
13. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve;
at least one electrode, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve; and
two end insulating elements, fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements, at least one of the end insulating elements shaped so as to define a contact surface between the end insulating element and the nerve, wherein the contact surface is configured so as to promote connective tissue growth between the nerve and the contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve, the housing shaped so as to define an internal surface and an external surface, which external surface is configured to promote growth of fibrous connective tissue therearound; and
at least one electrode, fixed to the internal surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. Apparatus for applying current to a nerve, comprising:
-
a housing, adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve, the housing shaped so as to define an outer surface having one or more holes therethrough, which are configured to allow passage of biological materials therethrough; and
one or more electrodes, fixed to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A method, comprising:
-
providing insulating elements at two longitudinal insulation sites of a nerve;
promoting connective tissue growth between the nerve and at least one of the insulating elements; and
applying an electrical current to the nerve from at least one current application site that is not in direct physical contact with the nerve, the current application site longitudinally between the insulation sites. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method comprising:
-
placing a housing in a vicinity of a nerve, the housing shaped so as to define an internal surface and an external surface;
configuring the external surface to promote growth of fibrous connective tissue therearound; and
applying an electrical current to the nerve from at least one site in a vicinity of the internal surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method comprising:
-
placing a housing in a vicinity of a nerve;
configuring the housing to allow passage of biological materials therethrough; and
applying an electrical current to the nerve from at least one site within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
-
Specification