Apparatus and method for coupling therapeutic and/or monitoring equipment to a patient

• US 6,912,424 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meagan Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meagan Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Leonard, Paul C., Bishay, Jon M., Miazga, Jay M.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/751,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/46, 607/48, 607/50, 607/115, 607/116, 607/152, 607/148, 607/149, 600/382, 600/386, 600/390, 600/393, 600/394
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting couplers for therapy administration and/or monitoring. The apparatus can include a support member configured to rest on a body of a recipient proximate to a coupling area. The support member can include a first coupler location configured to removably carry a first coupler proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient. A second coupler location of the support member is configured to removably carry a second coupler proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient. The first and second coupler locations can be arranged to guide the practitioner to connect the couplers properly to the body. For example, the first coupler location can be positioned closer than the second coupler location to the first coupling position. Accordingly, practitioners can be more likely to connect the first and second couplers to the correct coupling position on the body of the recipient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:

a first coupler having an electrical contact configured to be connected to a percutaneous electrical probe inserted into the recipient;

a support member, which aids in placement of the couplers, configured to rest on a body of the recipient proximate to a coupling region, the support member having a first engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient and a second engagement portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient;

a first engagement member configured to removably carry the first coupler at the first engagement portion of the support member;

a second engagement member configured to removably carry a second coupler at the second engagement portion of the support member, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position; and

a flexible cable connected between the first coupler and the support member, the cable remaining connected between the first coupler and the support member when the first coupler is moved from a first attached position with the first coupler carried by the first engagement member to a first coupled position with the first coupler operatively coupled to the recipient,

wherein the first coupler includes an actuator tool configured to insert the percutaneous electrode in the recipient, and wherein the first engagement member is configured to carry the first coupler including the actuator tool.

2. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:

a flexible support member, which aids in placement of the couplers configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body, wherein the support member has a central axis, a first elongated portion positioned along the central axis, a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on first and second sides of the central axis, and a third elongated portion positioned between the first and second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis, further wherein the first and second engagement members are positioned on one of the elongated portions, with the first engagement member including a column positioned on the first side of the central axis and the second engagement member including a column positioned on the second side of the central axis;

a first engagement member depending from the support member and configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body;

a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member wherein the first coupler includes an actuator tool configured to insert a percutaneous electrode in the recipient;

a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member;

a second engagement member depending from the support member and configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position, the second engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the first engagement member to the second coupling position;

a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and

a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member.

3. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:

a flexible support member which aids in placement of the couplers, configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body, wherein the support member has a central axis, a first elongated position positioned along the central axis, a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis, and a third elongated portion positioned between the first and the second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis, further wherein the first and second engagement members are positioned on one of the elongated portions, with the first engagement member including a column positioned on the first side of the central axis and the second engagement member including a column positioned on the second side of the central axis;

a first engagement member depending from the support member and configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body;

a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member;

a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member,

a second engagement member depending from the support member and configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the second engagement member to the first coupling position, the second engagement member configured to be positioned closer than the first engagement member to the second coupling position;

a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and

a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member.

4. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:

a flexible support member, which aids in placement of the couplers, configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a coupling location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body, the support member having a central axis;

a first engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a first side of the central axis, the first engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first coupling position located on the first side of the central axis;

a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member, wherein the first coupler includes an actuator tool configured to insert a percutaneous electrode in the recipient;

a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member;

a second engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a second side of the central axis opposite the first side of the central axis, the second engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the second coupling position located on the second side of the central axis;

a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and

a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member.

5. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:

a flexible support member, which aids in placement of the couplers, configured to rest on a body of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the body proximate to a coupling location where the couplers are to be coupled to the body, the support member having a central axis,

wherein the support member has a first elongated portion positioned along the central axis, a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on first and second sides of the central axis, and a third elongated portion positioned between the first and second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis;

a first engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a first side of the central axis, the first engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position on the body of the recipient, the first coupling position located on the first side of the central axis;

a first coupler removably engaged with the first engagement member;

a first electrical cable attached between the first coupler and the support member;

a second engagement member depending from the support member and positioned on a second side of the central axis opposite the first side of the central axis, the second engagement member configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position on the body of the recipient, the second coupling position located on the second side of the central axis;

a second coupler removably engaged with the second engagement member; and

a second electrical cable attached between the second coupler and the support member.

6. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of percutaneous probe couplers in position for removable coupling to a recipient, comprising:

a flexible support member configured to rest on a back of a recipient and conform to a curvature of the back proximate to a coupling region of the back, the support member having a central axis, a first elongated portion positioned along the central axis a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on first and second sides of the central axis and a third elongated portion between the first and second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis;

five pairs of engagement posts depending from the support member, engagement posts of a first pair positioned on opposite sides of the central axis toward an end of the first elongated portion, engagement posts of a second pair positioned at opposite ends of the second elongated portion, engagement posts of a third pair positioned at opposite ends of the third elongated portion, engagement posts of a fourth pair positioned on opposite sides of the central axis between the first and second pair, and engagement posts of a fifth pair positioned on opposite sides of the central axis between the second and third pair;

five pairs of couplers, each coupler having an aperture with aperture walls removably engaged with one of the engagement posts; and

five pairs of electrical cables with each electrical cable attached between one of the couplers and the support member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each cable enters the support member at a separate entry point and exits the support member at a common exit point, the cables being bundled together external to the exit point and connected to a single connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first coupler includes an actuator tool configured to insert a percutaneous electrode in the recipient.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first coupler includes an electrically conductive clamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first coupler includes an electrically conductive alligator clip.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the support member is configured to rest on the back of the recipient proximate to the coupling region having a plurality of coupling positions, and wherein an outline of the coupling positions defines a first shape and an outline of the engagement members defines a corresponding second shape at least generally similar to the first shape.

12. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:

support member which aids in placement of the couplers on the recipient, and is configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position on the body of the recipient;

a first coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body when spaced apart from the first coupler portion and configured to be removably supported at the first coupler portion;

a second coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body when spaced apart from the second coupler portion and configured to be removably supported at the second coupler portion;

a recipient care unit configured to deliver therapy, monitor a condition of the recipient, or delivery therapy and monitor a condition of the recipient,

wherein the recipient care unit includes a source of electrical current which provides electrical stimulation to the couplers; and

a first link between the care unit and the first coupler and a second link between the care unit and the second coupler.

13. An apparatus for supporting couplers for removable coupling to a recipient during at least one of therapy administration and recipient monitoring, the apparatus comprising:

support member configured to rest on a body of the recipient, the support member having a first coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a first coupling position of the body of the recipient, the support member further having a second coupler portion configured to be positioned proximate to a second coupling position of the body of the recipient, the first coupler portion configured to be positioned closer than the second coupler portion to the first coupling position on the body of the recipient;

a first coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body and removably supported at the first coupler portion;

a second coupler configured to be operatively coupled to the body and removably supported at the second coupler portion;

a recipient care unit configured to deliver therapy, monitor a condition of the recipient, or delivery therapy and monitor a condition of the recipient; and

a first link between the care unit and the first coupler and a second link between the care unit and the second coupler;

wherein the support member has a central axis, a first elongated portion positioned along the central axis, a second elongated portion extending transversely to the central axis on first and second sides of the central axis, and a third elongated portion positioned between the first and second elongated portions and extending transversely to the central axis on the first and second sides of the central axis, further wherein the first and second coupler locations are positioned on one of the elongated portions, with the first coupler location including a post positioned on the first side of the central axis and the second coupler location including a post positioned on the second side of the central axis.