Patent US4011861A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4011861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable electric terminal for organic tissue
Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
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Filing: 1975-10-28
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A non-reacting implantable electric terminal for organic tissue, which is porous and intermeshes with the tissue including blood capillaries without the formation of a fibrous tissue encapsulation that reduces the sensitivity of tissue to electricity. This electric terminal is composed of tissue-compatible implantable material or materials at least one of which is electrically conductive, such as platinum, or an alloy, and which has on at least one surface thereof a porous material or layer having pores that are interconnected and continuous so that body electrolytes and/or tissue containing blood capillaries can contact the electrically conductive material through said porous material or layer. The pores of this material or layer also must have an average diameter sufficient to permit blood vessels to form in them, i.e. a diameter preferably between about 10 and 500 microns. This porous material may be either electrically conductive or electrically non-conductive, and may comprise a porous metal, carbon, ceramic, such as one containing aluminum oxide, and/or a synthetic polymer, or elastomer, such as one containing a silicone, a fluorocarbon, or an epoxy resin. The shape of the electric terminal may vary as desired, and the more interconnected pores it contains the better. This electric terminal may either be placed on the surface of the tissue like a plate or disk, or be inserted into the tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl C. Enger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/07; A61B5/076; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A non-reacting implantable electric terminal for an organic tissue comprising: an electrically conductive portion having a surface thereof adapted to contact tissue electrolyte, said surface being completely surrounded and in intimate contact with an inert non-absorbable porous material having interconnected and continuous pores of an average diameter of between 10 and 500 microns so as to permit ingress of blood capillaries and intermeshing with said tissue without the formation of a fibrous tissue interface adjacent said surrounding part, and to permit electrolytes in the tissue to pass therethrough and to be in continuous contact with said electrically conductive portion, and means for connecting the electrically conductive portion of said electric terminal to an electrical circuit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A non-reacting implantable electric terminal for an organic tissue comprising: an electrically conductive portion having a surface thereof adapted to contact tissue electrolyte, said surface being completely surrounded and in intimate contact with an inert non-absorbable porous material having interconnected and continuous pores of an average diameter of between 10 and 500 microns so as to permit ingress of blood capillaries and intermeshing with said tissue without the formation of a fibrous tissue interface adjacent said surrounding part, and to permit electrolytes in the tissue to pass therethrough and to be in continuous contact with said electrically conductive portion, and means for connecting the electrically conductive portion of said electric terminal to an electrical circuit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion and said porous material are compatible with said electrolytes and said tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion is an implantable metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material comprises a ceramic metallic oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 4 wherein said porous ceramic comprises aluminum oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material comprises a plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 6 wherein said porous plastic is an elastomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material comprises a mixture of a ceramic and plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material is between about 5% and 85% porous.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion is substantially completely surrounded by said porous material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material is electrically conductive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion and said porous material have substantially the same chemical composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material forms a layer on said electrically conductive portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive portion is porous.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electric terminal according to claim 1 wherein said porous material including its pores are coated with an electrically conductive material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-reacting electric terminal for contact with organic tissue, comprising: a. a tissue compatible electrically conductive material having a surface thereof adapted to contact tissue electrolyte, and b. a porous layer of a tissue compatible inert non-absorbable material completely surrounding and in intimate contact with said surface of said conductive material, wherein at least some pores are interconnected through the thickness of said layer and have an average diameter ranging between about 10 and 500 microns, whereby blood vessels of said organic tissue can penetrate said pores without the formation of a fibrous tissue interface between said tissue and said materials adjacent said layer, and whereby electrolytes in said tissue can contact said electrically conductive material; and c. means for connecting the electrically conductive material of said electric terminal to an electrical circuit means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-reacting electric terminal for contact with organic tissue, comprising: a. a tissue compatible electrically conductive material having a surface thereof adapted to contact tissue electrolyte, and b. a porous layer of a tissue compatible inert non-absorbable material completely surrounding and in intimate contact with said surface of said conductive material, wherein at least some pores are interconnected through the thickness of said layer and have an average diameter ranging between about 10 and 500 microns, whereby blood vessels of said organic tissue can penetrate said pores without the formation of a fibrous tissue interface between said tissue and said materials adjacent said layer, and whereby electrolytes in said tissue can contact said electrically conductive material; and c. means for connecting the electrically conductive material of said electric terminal to an electrical circuit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said electrically conductive material is an implantable metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said porous material comprises a ceramic metallic oxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 18 wherein said porous ceramic comprises aluminum oxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said porous material comprises a plastic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said porous layer is between about 5% and 85% porous.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said electrically conductive material is substantially completely surrounded by said porous layer of tissue compatible material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said porous layer of material is electrically conductive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said electrically conductive material and said porous layer of tissue compatible material have substantially the same chemical composition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said electrically conductive material is porous.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electric terminal according to claim 16 wherein said porous layer including its pores are coated with an electrically conductive material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |