Patent US4623355A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4623355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Prosthetic axon
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-08-19
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Granted: 1986-11-18
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Expires: 2005-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A prosthetic axon for electrically bridging damaged nerve fibers constitutes a semi-conductive disc having therein pores substantially parallel to the polar axis of the disc, the pores having an interior coating of electrically conductive material extending substantially from the top to bottom surfaces of the disc, in which respective sides of the damaged nerve fibers are conductively secured to opposite sides of opposite pore ends of the conductive interior coating of the pores. The disc is embedded within a protein gel which is in electrical contact with both the conductive pore coating and the damaged nerve fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen D. Sawruk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/22; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/1128; A61L27/50; A61L27/52; A61L2430/00; A61L2430/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A prosthetic axon for electrically bridging damaged nerve fibers, comprising: (a) a semi-conductive disc having therein a plurality of pores substantially parallel to the polar axis of said disc, said pores having an interior coating of electrically conductive material extending substantially from the top to bottom surfaces of said disc; and (b) a protein gel within which said semi-conductive disc is embedded, and into which respective sides of said damaged nerve fibers are secured at opposing sides of opposite pore ends of said disc, said gel in electrical contact with said conductive interior material of each of said plurality of pores.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A prosthetic axon for electrically bridging damaged nerve fibers, comprising: (a) a semi-conductive disc having therein a plurality of pores substantially parallel to the polar axis of said disc, said pores having an interior coating of electrically conductive material extending substantially from the top to bottom surfaces of said disc; and (b) a protein gel within which said semi-conductive disc is embedded, and into which respective sides of said damaged nerve fibers are secured at opposing sides of opposite pore ends of said disc, said gel in electrical contact with said conductive interior material of each of said plurality of pores.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 1 in which said protein gel comprises a phospholipid gel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 2 in which said phospholipid gel comprises spingomyelin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 1 in which the maximum diameter of said disc is in the range of 0.25 to 25 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 4 in which the diameters of said pores is in the range of 100 microns to 2.5 millimeters, such diameters selected to conform to the diameters of the nerves to be prosthetically bridged.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 5, further comprising: a hydrophilic polymer bonded to said protein gel, thereby minimizing fibrosis of surrounding tissue and encouraging normalizing circulatory and electrolyte flow across the prosthetic axon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 1 in which at least one surface of said disc further comprises an impedance network disposed thereon, whereby impedance matching between the damaged sides of the nerve fibers is thereby enhanced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which said impedance network is embedded both (i) within said conductive coatings of said pores and (ii) on said disc between said conductive pore coatings, whereby intrapore and interpore impedances respectively between damaged nerve ending and between separate nerves within nerve bundles are therein matched.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which said impedance network includes programmable calibration means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 9 in which said programmable calibration means comprises an EPROM chip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which said semi-conductive disc is selectively doped to control its axial polarity and static electrical properties.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7, further comprising bonded silastic medical tubing to each pore for holding the proximal and distal nerve endings therein in a stress-free manner, prior to micro-suturing of the nerve endings into each pore and to its corresponding pore coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The prosthetic axon recited in claim 7 in which said semi-conductive disc comprises a silicon disc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which said electrically conductive interior coating of said pores is selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, iridium, or any combination thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which the surfaces of said disc are convoluted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which the surfaces of said disc are ridged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthetic axon as recited in claim 7 in which the surfaces of said disc are micropored.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-11-17 | 1990-05-19 | 1990-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-11-17 | 1994-05-19 | 1994-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-11-17 | 1998-05-19 | 1998-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |