Flexible Electrode Arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024108881-A1
Application number	US-202318476433-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2022
Publication date	Apr 4, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus has an electrode subassembly having a circuitry layer having a skin-facing inner side and an outer side. A plurality of electrode elements are disposed on the inner side of the circuitry layer and electrically coupled to the circuitry layer. Each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements has an electrode edge. A layer of anisotropic material is electrically coupled to the plurality of electrode elements of the electrode subassembly. The layer of anisotropic material has a skin-facing surface and an opposing outwardly facing surface. The layer of anisotropic material has a peripheral outer edge. The peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material extends beyond the electrode edge of each respective electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements. A skin contact layer comprises a biocompatible conductive material. The skin contact layer is disposed on a skin-facing side of the layer of anisotropic material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
an electrode subassembly having:
a circuitry layer having a skin-facing inner side and an outer side; and
a plurality of electrode elements disposed on the inner side of the circuitry layer and electrically coupled to the circuitry layer, wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements has an electrode edge and an inner side;
a layer of anisotropic material electrically coupled to the plurality of electrode elements of the electrode subassembly, the layer of anisotropic material disposed on the inner side of each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements and having a skin-facing surface and an opposing outwardly facing surface, the layer of anisotropic material having a peripheral outer edge, wherein the peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material extends beyond the electrode edge of each respective electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements; and a skin contact layer comprising a biocompatible conductive material, wherein the skin contact layer is disposed on a skin-facing side of the layer of anisotropic material.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry layer comprises a primary branch that extends along a first axis, wherein the plurality of electrode elements comprise:
at least one electrode element positioned on a first side of the primary branch; and at least one electrode element positioned on a second side of the primary branch, wherein the second side is spaced from the first side along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein at least one of the at least one electrode element positioned on the first side of the primary branch and at least one of the at least one electrode element positioned on the second side of the primary branch are mechanically coupled to the primary branch in a manner that provides mechanical support and flexibility along both the first axis and the second axis.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrode element positioned on the first side of the primary branch comprises first and second electrode elements positioned on the first side of the primary branch, and wherein the at least one electrode element positioned on the second side of the primary branch comprises third and fourth electrode elements positioned on the second side of the primary branch.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the circuitry layer comprises:
a first secondary branch that extends away from a first end portion of the primary branch in a first direction along or parallel to the second axis; and a second secondary branch that extends away from the first end portion of the primary branch in a second direction along or parallel to the second axis that is opposite the first direction, wherein the first secondary branch electrically and mechanically couples the first electrode element to the primary branch, and wherein the second secondary branch electrically and mechanically couples the third electrode element to the primary branch.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry layer further comprises:
a first tertiary branch that extends away from the first electrode element along or parallel to the first axis in a direction toward a second end portion of the primary branch; and a second tertiary branch that extends away from the third electrode element along or parallel to the first axis in the direction toward the second end portion of the primary branch, wherein the first tertiary branch electrically and mechanically couples the second electrode element to the first secondary branch, and wherein the second tertiary branch electrically and mechanically couples the fourth electrode element to the second secondary branch.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the respective electrode edges of the second and fourth electrode elements are spaced from the primary branch along or parallel to the second axis.

7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements comprises a first end edge that is parallel or substantially parallel to the first axis and that faces the primary branch.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements further comprises an opposing second end edge that is rounded and that faces the peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements further comprises first and second side edges that extend between the first and second end edges of the electrode element.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements further comprises an opposing second end edge that is parallel or substantially parallel to the first axis and that faces the peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of conductive adhesive composite positioned between a skin-facing surface of the plurality of electrode elements of the electrode subassembly and the outwardly facing surface of the layer of anisotropic material, wherein the layer of conductive adhesive composite is configured to facilitate electrical contact between the plurality of electrode elements and the outwardly facing surface of the layer of anisotropic material.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a covering layer having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the inner side is disposed on the outer side of the circuitry layer, wherein portions of the covering layer extend beyond the electrode edge of each of the electrode elements and beyond the peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material to define at least one attachment surface.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrode subassembly has a total areal footprint, wherein the layer of anisotropic material has a total areal footprint, and wherein a ratio of the total areal footprint of the electrode subassembly to the total areal footprint of the layer of anisotropic material is from 20% to 95%.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each electrode element comprises:
a metallic layer having a skin-facing side and a skin-facing surface; and a layer of dielectric material, wherein the layer of dielectric material is disposed on the skin-facing side of the metallic layer and is electrically coupled to both of the metallic layer and the outwardly facing surface of the layer of anisotropic material.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the layer of dielectric material comprises a ceramic material or a polymer film.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the skin-contact layer is a conductive adhesive composite.

17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anisotropic material comprises graphite, and wherein the peripheral outer edge of the layer of anisotropic material extends beyond the electrode edge of each respective electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements by at least 1 mm.

18 . An apparatus comprising:
an electrode subassembly having:
a circuitry layer having a skin-facing inner side and an outer side, wherein the circuitry layer comprises a primary branch that extends along a first axis; and
a plurality of electrode elements disposed on the inner side of the circuitry layer and electrically coupled to the circuitry layer, wherein each electrode element of the plurality of electrode elements has an electrode edge;
a layer of anisotropic

Assignees

• Novocure Gmbh

Inventors

• Wasserman Yoram
• Obuchovsky Stas
• Kuplennik Nataliya
• Shapiro David

Classifications

• A61N1/0404

  for external use (A61N1/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/044

  Shape of the electrode · CPC title

• A61B5/263

  characterised by the electrode materials · CPC title

• A61B5/257

  using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes · CPC title

• A61B5/251

  Means for maintaining electrode contact with the body · CPC title