Self-expanding nerve cuff electrode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11844941-B2
Application number	US-202117206087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2021
Priority date	May 2, 2017
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An electrode lead comprises an elongated lead body, at least one lead connector terminal affixed to the proximal end of the lead body, and an electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body. The cuff body is configured for being circumferentially disposed around a nerve. The cuff body comprises cutouts, slits, a wrinkled portion, a thin stretchable portion, and/or a serpentine strap, which increases that increase the expandability of the cuff body when disposed around the nerve. The electrode lead further comprises at least one electrode contact affixed to the cuff body, and at least one electrical conductor extending through the lead body between the at least one lead connector terminal and the electrode contact(s). If the cuff body comprises cutouts or slits, the electrode lead can further comprise a thin stretchable film affixed to the cuff body over cutouts or slits.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode lead, comprising:
an elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;
at least one lead connector terminal affixed to the proximal end of the lead body;
a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body, the cuff body configured for being circumferentially disposed around a nerve, the cuff body comprising first and second opposing regions and first and second opposing axially spaced circumferential edges when disposed around the nerve, a serpentine strap extending from the first region cuff body, the serpentine strap configured for being affixed to the second region of the cuff body, such that the serpentine strap alternately meanders toward and away from each of the first and second axially spaced circumferential edges when the cuff body is in a relaxed state when disposed around the nerve, the serpentine strap configured for becoming less serpentine in response to an increase in an outward radial force applied to the cuff body by a swelling of the nerve, thereby facilitating the transition of the cuff body from the relaxed state to an expanded state when disposed around the nerve;
at least one electrode contact affixed to the cuff body; and
at least one electrical conductor extending through the lead body between the at least one lead connector terminal and the at least one electrode contact.

2. The electrode lead of claim 1 , wherein the cuff body is composed of silicone.

3. The electrode lead of claim 1 , wherein the cuff body has a thickness less than 1 mm.

4. The electrode lead of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode contact is configured for being on an inner surface of the cuff body when disposed around the nerve.

5. The electrode lead of claim 1 , further comprising a locking feature configured for firmly securing the cuff body around the nerve.

6. The electrode lead of claim 1 , wherein the serpentine strap is configured for becoming more serpentine in response to a decrease in the outward radial force applied to the cuff body as the swelling of the nerve subsides, thereby facilitating the transition of the cuff body from the expanded state back to the relaxed state when disposed around the nerve.

7. The electrode lead of claim 6 , wherein, when the cuff body is configured for being circumferentially disposed around the nerve, the serpentine strap has a planar shape with a thickness extending along a radius of the nerve, and a width extending along a length of the nerve, the width being greater than the thickness, such that the width of the serpentine strap meanders between the axially spaced circumferential edges of the cuff body when the cuff body is in the relaxed state.

8. The electrode lead of claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the serpentine strap does not meander along a radius of the cuff body when the cuff body in the relaxed state.

9. The electrode lead of claim 6 , wherein the serpentine strap meanders between the first and second edges across a centerline of the serpentine strap between the first and second axially spaced circumferential edges.

Assignees

• The Alfred E Mann Foundation For Scient Research
• The Alfred E Mann Foundation Scient Research

Inventors

• NG Boon Khai
• Dai William Alexander

Classifications

• A61N1/0556 Primary

  Cuff electrodes · CPC title

• A61B5/4818

  Sleep apnoea · CPC title

• A61N1/0558

  Anchoring or fixation means therefor · CPC title

• A61B5/24

  Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof · CPC title

• A61B5/296

  for electromyography [EMG] · CPC title