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Show moreCross-reference to related application: Cross-reference is made to our earlier application Ser. No. 07/871,352 filed Apr. 20, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,322 the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background of the invention: The present invention relates to the biomedical arts, and in particular to implantable electrodes, their manufacture and surgical endoscopic installation. The present invention finds particular application in conjunction with cuff electrodes which are self-biased to helically curl around and snugly engage a nerve trunk, and will be described with particular reference thereto. The invention is also applicable to other types of implanted biomedical devices for introducing, monitoring, or removing matter or energy by helical engagement with body tissue. Electrical activation of the nervous system has been shown in recent years to offer great hope in restoring some degree of lost sensory and motor function in stroke victims and individuals with spinal cord lesions. Ways in which electrical activation of the nervous system can be utilized to restore a particular function include: (1) the use of surface electrodes to activate the nerves in the general region of interest; (2) the use of intramuscular electrodes, also to activate the nerves in a general region; and, (3) the use of nerve cuff electrodes placed around specific nerves of interest and used to activate them specifically and singularly. The third alternative offers advantages over the first two in that it requires the least amount of stimulating current and hence a minimal amount of charge injected into the tissue. In addition, it allows easy excitation of entire muscles rather than merely parts of muscles, a common situation for the first two categories. Because the use of nerve cuff electrodes requires delicate surgery, they are usually contemplated only when excitation of specific, isolated muscles is desired or the generation of unidirectional action potentials is required. One prior art cuff electrode includes a cylinder of dielectric material defining a bore therethrough of sufficient diameter to receive the nerve trunk to be electrically stimulated. The cylinder has a longitudinal split or opening to facilitate spreading the cuff open in order to receive a nerve therein. After installation, the longitudinal split is sutured or otherwise held closed. Although suturing holds the cuff in place, an electric current path is defined through the split which permits current leakage. Two or three annular electrodes are positioned on the inner surface of the bore for use in applying the electrical stimuli. The electric stimuli may be used to generate propagating nerve impulses or may be used to block naturally occurring nerve pulses traveling along the nerve trunk, or the like.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5505201
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Show moreBackground of the invention: The present invention relates to the biomedical arts, and in particular to implantable electrodes, their manufacture and surgical endoscopic installation. The present invention finds particular application in conjunction with cuff electrodes which are self-biased to helically curl around and snugly engage a nerve trunk, and will be described with particular reference thereto. The invention is also applicable to other types of implanted biomedical devices for introducing, monitoring, or removing matter or energy by helical engagement with body tissue. Electrical activation of the nervous system has been shown in recent years to offer great hope in restoring some degree of lost sensory and motor function in stroke victims and individuals with spinal cord lesions. Ways in which electrical activation of the nervous system can be utilized to restore a particular function include: (1) the use of surface electrodes to activate the nerves in the general region of interest; (2) the use of intramuscular electrodes, also to activate the nerves in a general region; and, (3) the use of nerve cuff electrodes placed around specific nerves of interest and used to activate them specifically and singularly. The third alternative offers advantages over the first two in that it requires the least amount of stimulating current and hence a minimal amount of charge injected into the tissue. In addition, it allows easy excitation of entire muscles rather than merely parts of muscles, a common situation for the first two categories. Because the use of nerve cuff electrodes requires delicate surgery, they are usually contemplated only when excitation of specific, isolated muscles is desired or the generation of unidirectional action potentials is required. One prior art cuff electrode includes a cylinder of dielectric material defining a bore therethrough of sufficient diameter to receive the nerve trunk to be electrically stimulated. The cylinder has a longitudinal split or opening to facilitate spreading the cuff open in order to receive a nerve therein. After installation, the longitudinal split is sutured or otherwise held closed. Although suturing holds the cuff in place, an electric current path is defined through the split which permits current leakage. Two or three annular electrodes are positioned on the inner surface of the bore for use in applying the electrical stimuli. The electric stimuli may be used to generate propagating nerve impulses or may be used to block naturally occurring nerve pulses traveling along the nerve trunk, or the like. Another earlier nerve cuff electrode described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,624 encircles a nerve trunk or other body tissue with at least one medication or electrical energy conductive member held against the tissue and a non-conductive sleeve extending to either side of the conductive member.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5964702
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Show moreCross-reference to related applications: Cross-reference is made to our earlier application Ser. No. 07/871,352 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,322 filed Apr. 20, 1992, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background of the invention: The present invention relates to the biomedical arts, and in particular to implantable electrodes, their manufacture and surgical endoscopic installation. The present invention finds particular application in conjunction with cuff electrodes which are self-biased to helically curl around and snugly engage a nerve trunk, and will be described with particular reference thereto. The invention is also applicable to other types of implanted biomedical devices for introducing, monitoring, or removing matter or energy by helical engagement with body tissue. Electrical activation of the nervous system has been shown in recent years to offer great hope in restoring some degree of lost sensory and motor function in stroke victims and individuals with spinal cord lesions. Ways in which electrical activation of the nervous system can be utilized to restore a particular function include: (1) the use of surface electrodes to activate the nerves in the general region of interest; (2) the use of intramuscular electrodes, also to activate the nerves in a general region; and, (3) the use of nerve cuff electrodes placed around specific nerves of interest and used to activate them specifically and singularly. The third alternative offers advantages over the first two in that it requires the least amount of stimulating current and hence a minimal amount of charge injected into the tissue. In addition, it allows easy excitation of entire muscles rather than merely parts of muscles, a common situation for the first two categories. Because the use of nerve cuff electrodes requires delicate surgery, they are usually contemplated only when excitation of specific, isolated muscles is desired or the generation of unidirectional action potentials is required. One prior art cuff electrode includes a cylinder of dielectric material defining a bore therethrough of sufficient diameter to receive the nerve trunk to be electrically stimulated. The cylinder has a longitudinal split or opening to facilitate spreading the cuff open in order to receive a nerve therein. After installation, the longitudinal split is sutured or otherwise held closed. Although suturing holds the cuff in place, an electric current path is defined through the split which permits current leakage. Two or three annular electrodes are positioned on the inner surface of the bore for use in applying the electrical stimuli. The electric stimuli may be used to generate propagating nerve impulses or may be used to block naturally occurring nerve pulses traveling along the nerve trunk, or the like.
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT5689877
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