Electrode geometries for efficient neural stimulation

• US 8,126,568 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gliner, Bradford Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US11/697,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/45, 607/117, 607/129
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

Electrodes designed in accordance with the present invention may selectively employ arc shaped contacts; variations in contact number, positioning, spacing, and/or distribution; variations in contact area, size, or periphery; and/or on-electrode conductive links or interconnections between particular contacts to provide enhanced efficiency neural stimulation, and/or increased electrode reliability.

Claims

1. An electrode suitable for neural stimulation comprising:

a substrate configured to be implanted in a human body;

a first set of electrical contacts carried by the substrate and organized in accordance with a first pattern; and

a second set of electrical contacts carried by the substrate and organized in accordance with a second pattern,

wherein a separation distance between a contact within the first set of electrical contacts and a contact within the second set of electrical contacts is unequal to the separation distance between contacts in first set electrical contacts and is unequal to the separation distance between contacts in the second set of electrical contacts and further wherein at least one contact within the second set of electrical contacts is disk shaped.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein each contact within the second set of electrical contacts is disk shaped.

3. An electrode suitable for neural stimulation comprising:

a substrate configured to be implanted in a human body;

a centrally positioned electrical contact carried by the substrate and having a first area; and

a plurality of peripherally positioned electrical contacts carried by the substrate, at least one peripherally positioned electrical contact having an essentially identical shape as the centrally positioned contact and a second area different than the first area.

4. The electrode of claim 3, wherein each peripherally positioned electrical contact has an essentially identical shape as the centrally positioned contact.

5. An electrode suitable for neural stimulation comprising:

a substrate configured to be implanted in a human body; and

a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the substrate and spatially distributed in a nonuniform manner, the plurality of electrical contacts including at least two contacts having different peripheries, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts includes at least two contacts having an on-electrode coupling therebetween.

6. An electrode suitable for neural stimulation comprising:

a substrate configured to be implanted in a human body; and

a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the substrate and spatially distributed in a nonuniform manner; and

an on-electrode coupling between at least two contacts within the plurality of electrical contacts.

7. The electrode of claim 6, wherein at least two contacts within the plurality of electrical contacts have different peripheries.