Implatable electrode

Claim 2

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible electrode means connected to said lead means, said flexible electrode means including means for being bent to adjustably substantially completely encircle and electrically contact the portion of the body to receive the electrical signal; and said lead means and a portion of said electrode means being encapsulated in an electrically insulating substance substantially inert to body fluids and tissue.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said substance includes: portions of said substance encapsulating said electrode means which extend in opposite directions when said electrode means are not bent and which are adapted to meet for joining when said electrode means are bent to generally encircle the portion of the body, for holding said electrode means in contact with the portion of the body.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including: a pair of said lead means; and a pair of said flexible electrode means, each connected to a different one of said lead means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 in which said pair of flexible electrodes each comprise a generally rectangular flat strip of flexible metal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 in which said flexible metal is position retaining.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 in which said pair of flexible electrode means extend generally parallel.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 including: U-shaped electrical conductor means at least partially encapsulated in said substance and mounted so that said parallel pair of flexible electrode means extend parallel to and in substantially the plane of and through the open end of said U-shaped means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 including: a pair of lead means; a pair of said flexible electrode means, both connected to a first one of said pair of lead means; a third of said flexible electrode means connected to a second one of said pair of lead means; and said pair of flexible electrode means mounted for current guarding said third flexible electrode means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 in which the surface area of said third flexible electrode is approximately equal to the combined surface area of said pair of flexible electrodes.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 in which: each of said flexible electrode means comprise a generally rectangular flat strip of flexible metal.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 in which said flexible metal is position retaining.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 in which: the width of said pair of flexible electrodes is equal; and the width of said third flexible electrode is approximately twice the width of one of said pair of flexible electrodes.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 in which: all said flexible electrode means extend generally parallel; and said third flexible electrode means is mounted between said pair of flexible electrode means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said lead means comprise a plurality of electrical conductor lines wound in a non-overlapping, helical pattern around an electrically insulating core; said lines each comprising a single electrical conductor strip helically wound around a separate electrically insulating core; and said flexible electrode means comprise an extending portion of said lead means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 in which: one of said flexible electrode means is U-shaped; and the other of said flexible electrode means extends parallel to and in substantially the plane of and through the open end of said U-shape of said one flexible electrode, so that said one flexible electrode means is in current guarding relation to said other flexible electrode means.

Claim 17

In implantable electrode apparatus havinG electrical conductor lead means connected to a plurality of electrode means, the lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current such that at least one of the electrode means is of opposite electrical polarity to at least another of the electrode means, the improvement comprising: the electrode means including means for selective flexing to substantially completely encircle and electrically connect to a portion of a body such that at least portions of electrode means of opposite electrical polarity are on opposite sides of the portion of the body.

Claim 18

In implantable electrode apparatus havinG electrical conductor lead means connected to a plurality of electrode means, the lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current such that at least one of the electrode means is of opposite electrical polarity to at least another of the electrode means, the improvement comprising: the electrode means including means for selective flexing to substantially completely encircle and electrically connect to a portion of a body such that at least portions of electrode means of opposite electrical polarity are on opposite sides of the portion of the body.

Claim 19

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible electrode means connected to said lead means, and including bend area means for bending to adjustably substantially completely encircle the portion of the body to receive the electrical signal; said lead means and a portion of said electrode means being encapsulated in an electrically insulating substance substantially inert to body fluids and tissue; and at least a portion of said bend area means not encapsulated in said substance.

Claim 20

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible electrode means connected to said lead means, and including bend area means for bending to adjustably substantially completely encircle the portion of the body to receive the electrical signal; said lead means and a portion of said electrode means being encapsulated in an electrically insulating substance substantially inert to body fluids and tissue; and at least a portion of said bend area means not encapsulated in said substance.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 17 in which said substance includes: portions of said substance encapsulating said electrode means which extend in opposite directions when said bend area means are not bent for joining when said bend area means are bent to generally encircle the portion of the body, for holding said electrode means in contact with the portion of the body.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 including: a pair of said lead means; and a pair of said flexible electrode means, each connected to a different one of said lead means.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19 in which said pair of flexible electrodes each comprise a generally rectangular flat strip of flexible metal having a bend area portion not encapsulated in said substance.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 in which said flexible metal is position retaining.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 in which said pair of flexible electrode means extend generally parallel.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22 including U-shaped electrical conductor means at least partially encapsulated in said substance and mounted so that said parallel pair of flexible electrode means extend parallel to and in substantially the plane of and through the open end of said U-shaped means.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 17 including: a pair of lead means; a pair of said flexible electrode means, both connected to a first one of said pair of lead means; a third of said flexible electrode means connected to a second one of said pair of lead means; and said pair of flexible electrode means mounted for current guarding said third flexible electrode means.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 24 in which the surface area of said third flexible electrode is approximately equal to the combined surface area of said pair of flexible electrodes.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 24 in which: each of said flexible electrode means comprise a generally rectangular flat strip of flexible metal having a bend area portion not encapsulated in said substance.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 26 in which said flexible metal is position retaining.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 26 in which: the width of said pair of flexible electrodes is equal; and the width of said third flexible electrode is approximately twice the width of one of said pair of flexible electrodes.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 26 in which: all said flexible electrode means extend generally parallel; and said third flexible electrode means is mounted between said pair of flexible electrode means.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 17 in which: said lead means comprise a plurality of electrical conductor lines wound in a non-overlapping, helical pattern around an electrically insulating core; said lines each comprising a single electrical conductor strip helically wound around a separate electrically insulating core; and said flexible electrode means comprise an eXtending portion of said lead means.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 30 in which: one of said flexible electrode means is U-shaped; and the other of said flexible electrode means extends parallel to and in substantially the plane of and through the open end of said U-shape of said one flexible electrode, so that said one flexible electrode means is mounted for providing current guarding to said other flexible electrode means.

Claim 35

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible wraparound electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical currents; and electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and a portion of said electrode means.

Claim 36

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible wraparound electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical currents; and electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and a portion of said electrode means.

Claim 37

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible wraparound electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current and for confining and concentrating sufficient current density to a selected portion of the body without adversely affecting said portion of the body; and electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and a portion of said electrode means.

Claim 38

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible wraparound electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current and for confining and concentrating sufficient current density to a selected portion of the body without adversely affecting said portion of the body; and electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and a portion of said electrode means.

Claim 39

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible, wraparound, substantially elongated electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current; electrically insulating, flexible, means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and all of said electrode means except for that portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body; and generally oppositely extending tab means connected to the portion of said insulating means encapsulating said electrode means, said tab means for fastening together for assisting in retaining said electrode means in a desired configuration.

Claim 40

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible, wraparound, substantially elongated electrode means connected to said lead means, said electrode means including means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted to substantially encircle and electrically contact different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current; electrically insulating, flexible, means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and all of said electrode means except for that portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body; and generally oppositely extending tab means connected to the portion of said insulating means encapsulating said electrode means, said tab means for fastening together for assisting in retaining said electrode means in a desired configuration.

Claim 41

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible, wraparound, substantially elongated electrode means connected to said lead means, said lead means comprising at least two separate electrical conductors and said electrode means comprising at least two separate electrodes; electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and all of said electrode means except for a portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body; said encapsulating means extending beyond said electrode means and defining oppositely extending integral tab means; said portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body defining an elongated area of exposed electrode surface comprising a major portion of the length of said electrode means and further defining an elongated area of reduced thickness in cross section, substantially less than the thickness of areas immediately adjacent opposite ends of said electrode means, said area of reduced thickness defining an elongated portion of greater flexibility than the areas immediately adjacent thereto, and further providing a bend area means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted tO substantially encircle different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current, such that when said bend area is bent around a portion of the body the areas of greater thickness and said tab means will lie substantially to one side of said portion of the body.

Claim 42

Electrode apparatus for implantation in the body comprising: electrical conductor lead means adapted to be connected to a source of electrical current; flexible, wraparound, substantially elongated electrode means connected to said lead means, said lead means comprising at least two separate electrical conductors and said electrode means comprising at least two separate electrodes; electrically insulating, flexible means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encapsulating said lead means and all of said electrode means except for a portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body; said encapsulating means extending beyond said electrode means and defining oppositely extending integral tab means; said portion of said electrode means adapted to contact a portion of the body defining an elongated area of exposed electrode surface comprising a major portion of the length of said electrode means and further defining an elongated area of reduced thickness in cross section, substantially less than the thickness of areas immediately adjacent opposite ends of said electrode means, said area of reduced thickness defining an elongated portion of greater flexibility than the areas immediately adjacent thereto, and further providing a bend area means for forming an adjustable configuration adapted tO substantially encircle different-sized portions of the body to receive the electrical current, such that when said bend area is bent around a portion of the body the areas of greater thickness and said tab means will lie substantially to one side of said portion of the body.