In vivo electrode implanting system

• US 4,886,065 A
• Filed: 08/08/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Collins, Earl R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/229,284
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 128/642, 128/784-786, 128/419 P
• US Class Current: 600/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]

Abstract

A cylindrical intramuscular implantable electrode is provided with a strip of fabric secured around it. The fabric is woven from a polyester fiber having loops of the fiber protruding. The end of the main cylindrical body is provided with a blunt conductive nose, and the opposite end is provided with a smaller diameter rear section with an annular groove to receive tips of fingers extending from a release tube. The fingers are formed to spring outwardly and move the fingertips out of the annular groove in order to release the electrode from the release tube when a sheath over the electrode is drawn back sufficiently. The sheath compresses the fingers of the release tube and the fabric loops until it is drawn back. Muscle tissue grows into the loops to secure the electrode in place after the sheath is drawn back. The entire assembly of electrode, release tube and sheath can be inserted into the patient'"'"'s muscle to the desired position through a hypodermic needle. The release tube may be used to manipulate the electrode in the patient'"'"'s muscle to an optimum position before the electrode is released.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising a body of solid material and a conductive surface exposed on one side of said body of said material, said body being covered with a nonsoluble synthetic fabric and said fabric having loops protruding through interstices of the fabric, a flexible insulated conductor for making an electrical connection through said body to said conductive surface, said body securely holding said insulated conductor in electrical contact with said conductive surface, said body being comprised of a main cylindrical section, and said conductive surface forming a blunt nose for the electrode at one end of said cylindrical section, said insulated conductor passing through said main cylindrical section from the end opposite said blunt nose to said blunt nose for electrical contact therewith, said fabric being secured around said main cylindrical section, and said body being comprised of a smaller diameter section extending from said main cylindrical section on the end thereof opposite said blunt nose, said smaller diameter section having an annular groove formed at the interface with said main cylindrical section, and said insulated conductor passes through both said smaller diameter section and said main cylindrical section along the axis thereof.

2. An electrode as defined in claim 1 wherein said smaller diameter section includes a rear section which tapers from the diameter of said smaller diameter section to the diameter of said insulated conductor, and said insulated conductor passes through said rear section along the axis thereof.

3. A system for implanting an electrode in tissue of a patient comprised of body of solid material and a conductive surface exposed on one side of said body of solid material, said body being covered with a nonsoluble synthetic fabric and said fabric having loops protruding through interstices of the fabric, a flexible insulated conductor for making an electrical connection through said body to said conductive surface, said body securely holding said insulated conductor in electrical contact with said conductive surface, said body being comprised of a main cylindrical section, and said conductive surface forming a blunt nose for the electrode at one end of said cylindrical section, said insulated conductor passing through said main cylindrical section from the end opposite said blunt nose to said blunt nose for electrical contact therewith, said fabric being secured around said main cylindrical section, and said body being comprised of a smaller diameter section extending from said main cylindrical section on the end thereof opposite said blunt nose, said smaller diameter section having an annular groove formed at the interface with said main cylindrical section, and said insulated conductor passes through both said smaller diameter section and said main cylindrical section along the axis thereof, said system including a rigid hollow tube surrounding said insulated conductor of said electrode, said hollow tube having an inside diameter greater than said insulated conductor and an outside diameter less than the diameter of said main cylindrical section of said electrode, said hollow tube having at least two fingers extending from one end thereof, said fingers being formed with fingertips extending radially inward toward the axis of said tube, and the body of said fingers being formed to normally arc out away from the axis of said tube sufficiently for said fingertips to have a space between them of at least the diameter of said smaller diameter section of said electrode, and a sheath surrounding said hollow tube, said sheath having an inside diameter substantially equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of said blunt nose of said electrode for compressing said loops of said fabric around said main cylindrical section of said electrode and forcing said fingers toward each other with their fingertips in said annular groove at the interface of said smaller diameter section with said main cylindrical section while said sheath is positioned around said hollow tube and over said main cylindrical section of said electrode to hold said fingertips in said groove and thus lock said electrode to said hollow tube until said sheath is drawn back over said hollow tube.

4. A system for implanting an electrode in tissue of a patient as defined in claim 3 including a hypodermic needle surrounding said sheath and electrode, said hypodermic needle having an inside diameter sufficiently greater than the outside diameter of said sheath to permit implanting said electrode in said tissue with said sheath and hollow tube passing through said needle, after which said needle may be withdrawn, and to position said electrode in said tissue by manipulating said hollow tube sufficiently, after which said sheath may be drawn back over said hollow tube to release said electrode in order for said sheath and hollow tube to be withdrawn from the patient leaving said electrode secured in place by tissue growth in said loops.