Abstract An improved electrode for establishing electrical contact with a nerve of a patient. This electrical contact may be used to sense neural activity on the nerve or to artificially stimulate it to perform various medical treatments. One embodiment of the electrode has an outer cuff of an insulating material which is sutured around the nerve to be contacted. A drug impregnated layer of material is positioned inside of the outer cuff. This material is a polymeric matrix which permits the drug to leach out at a predetermined rate. The drug is preferably a glucocortico steroid such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The actual electrical contact is produced by metallic foil which is positioned on the surface of the drug impregnated layer of material which is located inside of the cuff. A second embodiment employs a half cuff which is held in contact with the nerve tissue by being sutured to muscle tissue. The insulative substrate of the half cuff is a drug impregnated polymeric matrix. The electrode is a metallic disc, preferably round or oval in shape, which is recessed into the insulative substrate. An insulated lead electrically couples the metallic foil or metallic disc to an electronic circuit located remote from the nerve. The leaching out of the drug serves to control inflammation, irritation and swelling, and stabilizes the impedance and threshold of the nerve/electrode interface.
An electrode for coupling to nerve tissue of a patient comprising: a. an insulating substrate for partially encircling said nerve tissue, said substrate comprising means for fixedly attaching said electrode to said patient; b. means coupled to said insulative substrate for establishing electrical contact with said nerve tissue; and c. means coupled to said insulative substrate for treating inflammation and irritation of said nerve tissue; wherein said insulative substrate is recessed to create a trough to accept said nerve tissue, said establishing means is coupled to said insulative substrate at said trough, and said establishing means comprises a metallic disc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrode for coupling to nerve tissue of a patient comprising: a. an insulating substrate for partially encircling said nerve tissue, said substrate comprising means for fixedly attaching said electrode to said patient; b. means coupled to said insulative substrate for establishing electrical contact with said nerve tissue; and c. means coupled to said insulative substrate for treating inflammation and irritation of said nerve tissue; wherein said insulative substrate is recessed to create a trough to accept said nerve tissue, said establishing means is coupled to said insulative substrate at said trough, and said establishing means comprises a metallic disc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said metallic disc further comprises a flange coupled to said insulative substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electrode for coupling to nerve tissue of a patient comprising: a. an insulative substrate, said substrate comprising means for fixedly attaching said electrode to said patient; b. means coupled to said insulative substrate for establishing electrical contact with said nerve tissue, said establishing means comprising a porous conductor of electricity; and c. means located within said establishing means for treating inflammation and irritation of said nerve tissue; wherein said insulative substrate is recessed to accept said nerve tissue, said establishing means is coupled to said insulative substrate at said recess, and said porous conductor of electricity is a metallic disc having an outer flange coupled to said insulative substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electrode for coupling to nerve tissue of a patient comprising: a. an insulative substrate, said substrate comprising means for fixedly attaching said electrode to said patient; b. means coupled to said insulative substrate for establishing electrical contact with said nerve tissue, said establishing means comprising a porous conductor of electricity; and c. means located within said establishing means for treating inflammation and irritation of said nerve tissue; wherein said insulative substrate is recessed to accept said nerve tissue, said establishing means is coupled to said insulative substrate at said recess, and said porous conductor of electricity is a metallic disc having an outer flange coupled to said insulative substrate.