Reference electrode apparatus and method for neurostimulation implants
First Claim
1. An implantable apparatus for use with an implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator that provides an electrical stimulation signal to an active electrode, comprising:
- at least one anchor member, including;
a distal end portion adapted for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone;
an electrically conductive portion extending from the distal end portion to a contact location proximal to the distal end portion; and
an electrical connection line, separate from said at least one anchor member, the electrical connecting line being adapted for electrical interconnection at a first end thereof to said contact location of the at least one anchor member and for electrical interconnection at a second end thereof to said implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, wherein upon electrical interconnection of the first end to the contact location and electrical interconnection of the second end to the implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, a reference electrode is defined by said implantable apparatus, whereinthe implantable apparatus further comprises a support member and a bracket member, wherein the support member is configured to supportably interconnect the active electrode to a distal end of the support member, and wherein a proximal end portion of the support member is configured to be positionable in fixed relation to a patient'"'"'s cranial bone via a swivel member and a lock member supported by the bracket member applying a compressive force on the swivel member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable apparatus and method are provided for use in conjunction with an implantable neurostimulation signal generator that provides an electrical stimulation signal to an active electrode. In auditory stimulation applications, the apparatus includes at least one anchor member having a distal end portion for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone and an electrically conductive portion extending from the distal end portion to a contact location proximal to the distal end portion. An electrical connection line may be electrically interconnected at a first end to the contact location of the anchor member and electrically interconnected at a second end to an implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator to define a reference electrode. A bracket member may be mounted to a patient'"'"'s cranial bone utilizing the anchor member, wherein an electrically conductive pathway extends from a first contact location to a second contact location of the bracket member. The first contact location may selectively contact the contact location of the anchor member and the second location of the bracket member may be adapted for electrical interconnection to the electrical connection line.
115 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable apparatus for use with an implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator that provides an electrical stimulation signal to an active electrode, comprising:
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at least one anchor member, including; a distal end portion adapted for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone; an electrically conductive portion extending from the distal end portion to a contact location proximal to the distal end portion; and an electrical connection line, separate from said at least one anchor member, the electrical connecting line being adapted for electrical interconnection at a first end thereof to said contact location of the at least one anchor member and for electrical interconnection at a second end thereof to said implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, wherein upon electrical interconnection of the first end to the contact location and electrical interconnection of the second end to the implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, a reference electrode is defined by said implantable apparatus, wherein the implantable apparatus further comprises a support member and a bracket member, wherein the support member is configured to supportably interconnect the active electrode to a distal end of the support member, and wherein a proximal end portion of the support member is configured to be positionable in fixed relation to a patient'"'"'s cranial bone via a swivel member and a lock member supported by the bracket member applying a compressive force on the swivel member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable apparatus for use with an implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator that provides an electrical stimulation signal to an active electrode, comprising:
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an active electrode; at least one anchor member, including; a portion adapted for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone; an electrically conductive portion extending from the portion adapted for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone to a contact location proximal to the portion adapted for directly contacting a patient'"'"'s cranial bone, wherein the contact location is configured for electrical interconnection with a first end of an electrical connection line, separate from the anchor member, the electrical connection line having a second end provided for electrical connection to the implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, wherein upon electrical interconnection of the first end to the contact location and electrical interconnection of the second end to the implantable auditory neurostimulation signal generator, a reference electrode is defined by said implantable apparatus; a lockable swivel member, wherein the lockable swivel member is configured to enable advancement and rotation of active electrode in an unlocked state of the swivel member; and a support member and a bracket member, wherein the active electrode is supportably interconnected to a first portion of the support member, and wherein a second portion remote from the first portion of the support member is positionable in fixed relation to a patient'"'"'s cranial bone and the bracket member via the lockable swivel member in a locked state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing electrical stimulation to a recipient, comprising:
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providing electrical stimulation to tissue of the recipient via delivery of an electrical signal from a stimulation signal generator to an active electrode and via a reference electrode that is in electrical communication with the stimulation signal generator, wherein the reference electrode comprises at least a portion of an implanted apparatus that includes a fixation element fixed to bone of a recipient and a bracket secured to the bone via the fixation element, and electrical communication between the reference electrode and the stimulation signal generator takes place along an electrically conductive path that at least in part extends; from and including at least a portion of the fixation element; and through at least a portion of the bracket to an electrical connection with a connection line that is in electrical communication with the stimulation signal generator, wherein; the fixation element is fixed to a cranial bone of the recipient, and thus the implanted component is secured to the cranial bone of the recipient; the active electrode is located at least one of proximate or inside a cochlea of the recipient; and the conductive path extends from the active electrode to the cranial bone, through at least a portion of the fixation element, through at least a portion of the bracket, to a connection that is in electrical communication with the stimulation signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification