# US 2008/0188867 A1 · Removable intramuscular electrode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0188867 A1 - Document ID: US20080188867A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/026,428 - Filed: 2008-02-05 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-05 - Assignees: Synapse Biomedical, Inc. - Inventors: Anthony R. Ignagni; Raymond P. Onders; James E. Gelbke; Timothy Crish - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188867A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/0502: {Skin piercing electrodes} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract An implantable medical electrode system for intramuscular use that is readily removable is provided, as well as methods for its use. The system includes an electrode, an electrical lead mechanically and electrically connected to the electrode and extending proximally, and a tether bonded to the electrode and extending proximally. A conductor with an insulated portion enwraps the electrical lead; an uninsulated portion enwraps the electrode. Some embodiments may include a tissue-piercing guide such as a needle. In some embodiments, the electrode includes a barb, although in some of these embodiments the tether does not extend through the barb. The method of using the system includes inserting the through a target tissue, pulling the electrode with the needle into the target tissue, and extending the electrical lead and tether proximally to an electrical connection. Methods are further provided for removing the electrode which take advantage of structural features of the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical electrode system comprising: an electrode; an electrical lead mechanically and electrically connected to the electrode and extending proximally from the electrode; and an electrode tether bonded to the electrode and extending proximally from the electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 further comprising a tissue-piercing guide attached to a distal end of the electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical electrode system of claim 2 wherein the tissue-piercing guide comprises a needle having a flared proximal end and a sharp distal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 wherein the electrical lead surrounds at least a portion of the tether. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 wherein the electrical lead comprises an insulated conductor, the electrode comprising an uninsulated portion of the conductor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connector attached to a proximal end of the electrical lead. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical electrode system of claim 6 wherein the electrical connector is mechanically attached to the tether. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 wherein the electrode further comprises a flexible barb. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The medical electrode system of claim 8 wherein the tether comprises a core extending through the electrical lead and the electrode but not through the barb. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical electrode system of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises a core extending through the electrical lead and the electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medical electrode system of claim 10 further comprising a tissue-piercing guide attached to the core distal to the distal end of the electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The medical electrode system of claim 10 wherein the core includes a distally terminal knob distal to the electrode, the knob configured to engage a delivery instrument to facilitate ejection of the electrode from the instrument. ### Claim 13 A method of using an electrode in target tissue in a patient, the method comprising: inserting a tissue-piercing guide into and through the target tissue; pulling an electrode connected to a proximal end of the tissue-piercing guide into the target tissue, the electrode being connected to the tissue-piercing guide by a tether extending distally from the electrode; and extending an electrical lead and the tether proximally from the electrode to an electrical connection location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the electrode comprises a barb, the method further comprising pulling the barb into the target tissue. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising cutting the tether between the electrode and the tissue-piercing guide after the pulling step and removing the tissue-piercing guide from the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further comprising removing the electrode from the target tissue, the removing step comprising pulling proximally on the electrical lead and pulling proximally on the tether. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the electrical lead and tether terminate in an electrical connector, the removing step further comprising removing the electrical connector from the electrical lead and tether. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the electrical lead surrounds at least a portion of the tether, the removing step further comprising separating the electrical lead and the tether prior to the pulling steps. ### Claim 19 A method of using an electrode in target tissue in a patient, the method comprising: inserting an electrode into the target tissue, the electrode being bonded to a tether and electrically connected to an electrical lead; and extending an electrical lead and the tether proximally from the electrode to an electrical connection location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising removing the electrode from the target tissue, the removing step comprising pulling proximally on the electrical lead and pulling proximally on the tether. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the electrical lead and tether terminate in an electrical connector, the removing step further comprising removing the electrical connector from the electrical lead and tether. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the electrical lead surrounds at least a portion of the tether, the removing step further comprising separating the electrical lead and the tether prior to the pulling steps.