Patent US4336811A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4336811A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Prosthesis electrode with multi-layer membrane
Assignee: ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY CORP A CORP OF WA
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Filing: 1980-07-09
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Granted: 1982-06-29
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Expires: 2000-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A prosthesis electrode for electrically stimulating body tissue. The electrode has a metal tip covered by a non-metallic coating composed of a compound of the metal in the tip. Covering the non-metallic coating is an ion-conducting membrane which prevents the metal tip and the non-metallic coating from contacting the body tissue. The membrane comprises a specific ion-conducting inner membrane layer which prevents transference to the body tissue of ions in the coating which enter into undesirable reactions with the body tissue. On the outside of the inner membrane is a non-specific ion-conducting outer membrane layer which is non-toxic to body tissue and which prevents changes in salt concentration in the body tissue adjacent the electrode during a biphasic pulse of the electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore R. Beck
- 👤 Robert T. Ruggeri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/326; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A prosthesis electrode for electrically stimulating body tissue, said electrode comprising: wire means for conducting an electric signal; a metallic tip at the end of said wire means; a non-metallic coating on said tip, said non-metallic coating being composed of a compound which can be oxidized and reduced cyclically in response to a biphasic pulse; ion-conducting membrane means surrounding said tip and overlying said non-metallic coating for preventing the tip and said coating from contacting said body tissue; said coating being in the form of a layer interposed between said tip and said membrane means; said membrane means comprising a specific ion-conducting inner membrane layer adjacent said coating and comprising means for inhibiting movement into said body tissue of soluble ions of said coating which may be toxic to the body tissue; said membrane means also comprising a non-specific ion-conducting outer membrane layer on the side of said inner membrane layer opposite said coating, said outer membrane layer comprising means for preventing changes in salt concentration in the body tissue adjacent said electrode during a biphasic pulse; said outer membrane layer being composed of a material which is non-toxic to said body tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A prosthesis electrode for electrically stimulating body tissue, said electrode comprising: wire means for conducting an electric signal; a metallic tip at the end of said wire means; a non-metallic coating on said tip, said non-metallic coating being composed of a compound which can be oxidized and reduced cyclically in response to a biphasic pulse; ion-conducting membrane means surrounding said tip and overlying said non-metallic coating for preventing the tip and said coating from contacting said body tissue; said coating being in the form of a layer interposed between said tip and said membrane means; said membrane means comprising a specific ion-conducting inner membrane layer adjacent said coating and comprising means for inhibiting movement into said body tissue of soluble ions of said coating which may be toxic to the body tissue; said membrane means also comprising a non-specific ion-conducting outer membrane layer on the side of said inner membrane layer opposite said coating, said outer membrane layer comprising means for preventing changes in salt concentration in the body tissue adjacent said electrode during a biphasic pulse; said outer membrane layer being composed of a material which is non-toxic to said body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 and comprising: electrical insulation means enclosing said wire means; said metallic tip and said non-metallic coating on said tip being substantially exposed relative to said electrical insulation means; said electrode being devoid of electrical insulation means at the location where said membrane means overlies said non-metallic coating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said non-metallic coating is a chloride salt of the metal in said tip; said inner membrane layer is composed of an anionic-conducting material; and said outer membrane layer comprises means for preventing changes in the sodium chloride concentration in said body tissue adjacent said electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 3 wherein: said non-metallic coating is composed of silver chloride; and said metallic tip is composed of silver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said outer membrane layer is composed of cellulose acetate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said inner membrane layer comprises an anion-conducting membrane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 6 wherein: said non-metallic coating comprises an anion corresponding to an anion in the body tissue fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 7 wherein: said non-metallic coating comprises a cation corresponding to the metal in said tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 8 wherein: said metal tip is mercury and said coating is mercury chloride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said electrode is intended for use with a signal generator alternately generating positive and negative electrical pulses, and wherein: said non-metallic coating comprises a cation corresponding to the metal in said tip and an anion corresponding to an anion in the body tissue fluid; said electrode comprising means for cooperating with said body tissue fluid, and responsive to a positive electrical pulse, for building up on said non-metallic coating additional molecular layers of said coating to increase the charge at the tip of said electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said membrane means comprises cation-conducting means; and said non-metallic coating comprises a cation which is substantially insoluble in the body tissue fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 11 wherein: said non-metallic coating comprises a cation having a solubility in said body tissue fluid no greater than 0.1 ppb.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said inner membrane layer comprises cation-conducting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 13 wherein: said metallic tip is composed of tungsten; and said coating comprises oxides of tungsten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 13 wherein: said metallic tip is composed of silver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said non-metallic coating has an initial thickness in the range 0-100,000 molecular layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 1 wherein: said membrane means has a thickness in the range 1-100 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A prosthesis electrode as recited in claim 17 wherein: said non-metallic coating has an initial thickness in the range 0-100,000 molecular layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-28 | 1985-12-28 | 1986-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-28 | 1989-12-28 | 1990-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-28 | 1993-12-28 | 1994-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |