Mechanism and method of attaching a stimulation and/or sensing electrode to a nerve

• US 7,787,959 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morgan, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Narayanaswamy; Shubatra
• Application Number:
  US11/615,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119, 607/116
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/904 for medical, immunological, body treatment, or diagnosis

Abstract

An attachment mechanism for creating an electrical connection between a lead and a nerve bundle is disclosed herein. The attachment mechanism includes an electrically insulative polymer material including an electrode region of the polymer material sufficiently impregnated with nanotubes to be electrically conductive.

Claims

1. An attachment mechanism for creating an electrical connection between a lead and a nerve bundle, the attachment mechanism comprising:

an electrically insulative polymer material configured to attach to the nerve bundle, the polymer material including an electrode region of the polymer material sufficiently impregnated with nanotubes to be electrically conductive; and

an electrically conductive layer extending over an outer surface of the polymer material;

wherein the conductive layer and polymer layer are curved, the polymer layer forming an inner circumferential surface.

2. The attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the electrode region is electrically coupled to the conductive layer.

3. The attachment mechanism of claim 2, further comprising an insulative layer extending over an outer surface of the conductive layer.

4. The attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is configured to be electrically coupled to the lead.

5. The attachment mechanism of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is in the form of a C-channel.

6. The attachment mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulative layer extending over an outer surface of the polymer.

7. The attachment mechanism of claim 6, further comprising a transition pad on the electrically insulative layer and electrically coupled to the electrode region, wherein the lead is electrically coupled to the transition pad.

8. The attachment mechanism of claim 6, wherein the electrically insulative layer is curved, the polymer layer forming an inner circumferential surface.

9. The attachment mechanism of claim 8, wherein the attachment mechanism is in the form of a C-channel.

10. An attachment mechanism for creating an electrical connection between a lead and a nerve bundle, the attachment mechanism comprising:

an electrically insulative polymer material including an electrode region of the polymer material sufficiently impregnated with nanotubes to be electrically, wherein the polymer material is applied to the nerve bundle in a liquid or gel form.

11. The attachment mechanism of claim 10, further comprising an electrically conductive mesh adhered to the polymer material and electrically coupled to the lead.

12. A method of creating an electrical connection between a lead and a nerve bundle, the method comprising:

placing an electrically insulative polymer material in contact with the nerve bundle in such a manner that the polymer material attaches to the nerve bundle, wherein the polymer material includes an electrode region of the polymer material sufficiently impregnated with nanotubes to be electrically conductive, and wherein placing the electrically insulative polymer material in contact with the nerve bundle comprises applying the polymer material to the nerve bundle in a liquid or gel form.

13. A method of creating an electrical connection between a lead and a nerve bundle, the method comprising:

placing an electrically insulative polymer material in contact with the nerve bundle in such a manner that the polymer material attaches to the nerve bundle, wherein the polymer material includes an electrode region of the polymer material sufficiently impregnated with nanotubes to be electrically conductive, and wherein placing the electrically insulative polymer material in contact with the nerve bundle comprises resiliently deforming the polymer material to at least partially encircle the nerve bundle with the polymer material.