Method and apparatus for controlling the depth of percutaneous applications

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a percutaneous probe for electrotherapy having a sharp end and being positioned within the housing, the percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one of a first deployed position and a second deployed position, with the percutaneous probe projecting from the housing by a first distance when in the first deployed position, and with the percutaneous probe projecting from the housing by a second distance greater than the first distance when in the second deployed position;
• and
• a depth control device operatively coupled to the percutaneous probe, the depth control device having a first configuration to allow the percutaneous probe to be moved to the first deployed position, the depth control device having a second configuration to allow the percutaneous probe to be moved to the second deployed position;
• further comprising an actuator carrying the percutaneous probe, the actuator being rotatably supported by the housing, the actuator rotatable between a first position with the percutaneous probe in the first deployed position and a second position rotationally spaced apart from the first position with the percutaneous probe in the second deployed position.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a percutaneous probe for electrotherapy having a sharp end and being positioned within the housing, the percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one of a first deployed position and a second deployed position, with the percutaneous probe projecting from the housing by a first distance when in the first deployed position, and with the percutaneous probe projecting from the housing by a second distance greater than the first distance when in the second deployed position;
• and
• a depth control device operatively coupled to the percutaneous probe, the depth control device having a first configuration to allow the percutaneous probe to be moved to the first deployed position, the depth control device having a second configuration to allow the percutaneous probe to be moved to the second deployed position;
• further comprising a locking device positioned to selectively restrict motion of the percutaneous probe when the percutaneous probe is in at least one of the stowed position, the first deployed position and the second deployed position.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first percutaneous probe positioned within the housing, the first percutaneous probe having a sharp end and a first percutaneous length, the first percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a first stowed position and a first deployed position;
• and
• a second percutaneous probe positioned within the housing simultaneously with the first percutaneous probe, the second percutaneous probe having a sharpened end and a second percutaneous length, the second percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a second stowed position and a second deployed position;
• wherein the housing has an exit portion and an at least partially light transmissive portion positioned proximate to the exit portion, the at least partially light transmissive portion being positioned to allow visual access to the exit portion as the first percutaneous probe is moved to the first deployed position.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a percutaneous probe for electrotherapy having a sharp end and disposed within the housing, the percutaneous probe being movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one of a first deployed position and a second deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a first deployed length external to the housing when in the first deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a second deployed length external to the housing when in the second deployed position;
• and
• a tool movable relative to the housing, the tool having an engaging portion positioned to selectively engage the percutaneous probe at a first axial location to move the percutaneous probe to the first deployed position, the engaging portion positioned to selectively engage the percutaneous probe at a second axial location spaced apart from the first axial location to move the percutaneous probe to the second deployed position.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a percutaneous probe having a sharp end and disposed within the housing, the percutaneous probe being movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one of a first deployed position and a second deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a first deployed length external to the housing when in the first deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a second deployed length external to the housing when in the second deployed position;
• and
• a tool movable relative to the housing, the tool having an engaging portion positioned to selectively engage the percutaneous probe at a first axial location to move the percutaneous probe to the first deployed position, the engaging portion positioned to selectively engage the percutaneous probe at a second axial location spaced apart from the first axial location to move the percutaneous probe to the second deployed position;
• wherein the engaging portion includes first and second clamp arms pivotable relative to each other to engage and disengage the percutaneous probe.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing;
• a percutaneous probe having a sharp end and disposed within the housing, the percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one deployed position;
• a plunger coupled to the probe, the plunger having a handle portion positioned to receive an operator's hand;
• and
• an electrical coupling in releasable contact with the percutaneous probe, wherein the electrical coupling is removable from the housing independently of the plunger.

An apparatus for percutaneous application, comprising:

• a housing having a first aperture positioned to releasably receive an electrical coupling and a second aperture positioned to receive a plunger;
• a percutaneous probe having a sharp end and disposed within the housing, the percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one deployed position, the percutaneous probe positioned to releasably contact the electrical coupling;
• and
• a plunger fixedly coupled to the probe and positioned in the second aperture, the plunger having a handle portion positioned to receive an operator's hand.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe apparatus, comprising:

• choosing a selected deployment depth from at least a first deployment depth and a second deployment depth;
• deploying the percutaneous probe to the selected deployment depth in a recipient's tissue;
• halting deployment of the percutaneous probe at the selected deployment depth with a depth control device of the percutaneous probe apparatus having one of at least two configurations;
• withdrawing the percutaneous probe from the recipient's tissue;
• and stowing the percutaneous probe in the housing.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe apparatus, comprising:

• choosing a selected deployment depth from at least a first deployment depth and a second deployment depth;
• deploying the percutaneous probe to the selected deployment depth in a recipient's tissue;
• halting deployment of the percutaneous probe at the selected deployment depth with a depth control device of the percutaneous probe apparatus having one of at least two configurations;
• withdrawing the percutaneous probe from the recipient's tissue;
• and stowing the percutaneous probe in the housing;
• wherein the percutaneous probe is carried by an actuator and wherein the actuator is movable relative to the housing, further wherein one of the actuator and the housing includes first and second detents and the other of the actuator and the housing includes an engaging portion positioned to be selectively engaged with at least one of the first and second detents, and wherein halting motion of the percutaneous probe includes engaging the engaging portion with the first detent.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe apparatus, comprising:

• choosing a selected deployment depth from at least a first deployment depth and a second deployment depth;
• deploying the percutaneous probe to the selected deployment depth in a recipient's tissue;
• halting deployment of the percutaneous probe at the selected deployment depth with a depth control device of the percutaneous probe apparatus having one of at least two configurations;
• withdrawing the percutaneous probe from the recipient's tissue;
• and stowing the percutaneous probe in the housing;
• wherein deploying the percutaneous probe includes rotating an actuator carrying the percutaneous probe to a first of two rotationally spaced apart positions.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe, comprising:

• stowing the percutaneous probe in a housing with at least part of the percutaneous probe having a generally non-linear shape;
• deploying the percutaneous probe into a recipient's tissue with the at least part of the percutaneous probe having a generally linear shape;
• choosing a selected deployment depth from at least a first deployment depth and a second deployment depth;
• and
• deploying the percutaneous probe to the selected deployment depth in the recipient's tissue by releasably coupling an actuator to the percutaneous probe at one of at least two positions along a length of the percutaneous probe.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe for electrotherapy, comprising:

• supporting a housing having a percutaneous probe that is movable relative to the housing between a stowed position, a first deployed position and a second deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a first deployed length external to the housing when in the first deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a second deployed length external to the housing when in the second deployed position;
• selecting either one of the first and second deployed positions;
• deploying the percutaneous probe from the housing to the one of the first and second deployed positions;
• and
• halting movement of the percutaneous probe beyond the at least one of the first and second positions.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe, comprising:

• supporting a housing having a percutaneous probe that is movable relative to the housing between a stowed position, a first deployed position and a second deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a first deployed length external to the housing when in the first deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a second deployed length external to the housing when in the second deployed position;
• selecting either one of the first and second deployed positions;
• deploying the percutaneous probe from the housing to the one of the first and second deployed positions;
• and
• halting movement of the percutaneous probe beyond the at least one of the first and second positions;
• and
• releasably engaging a tool with the percutaneous probe at one of two axial locations of the percutaneous probe, with a first axial location corresponding to the first deployed position and a second axial location spaced apart from the first axial location and corresponding to the second deployed position.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe, comprising:

• supporting a housing having a percutaneous probe that is movable relative to the housing between a stowed position, a first deployed position and a second deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a first deployed length external to the housing when in the first deployed position, the percutaneous probe having a second deployed length external to the housing when in the second deployed position;
• selecting either one of the first and second deployed positions;
• deploying the percutaneous probe from the housing to the one of the first and second deployed positions;
• and
• halting movement of the percutaneous probe beyond the at least one of the first and second positions;
• and
• releasably clamping a portion of a tool around the percutaneous probe at one of two axial locations of the percutaneous probe, with a first axial location corresponding to the first deployed position and a second axial location spaced apart from the first axial location and corresponding to the second deployed position.

A method for operating a percutaneous probe, comprising:

• supporting a housing having a percutaneous probe, the percutaneous probe movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one deployed position, the percutaneous probe coupled to a plunger;
• releasably connecting an electrical coupling to the percutaneous probe, wherein the electrical coupling is removable from the housing independently of the plunger;
• and
• deploying the percutaneous probe by moving the plunger relative to the housing.

A method for deploying a percutaneous probe, comprising:

• engaging with a recipient's skin a housing having a percutaneous probe that is movable relative to the housing between a stowed position and at least one deployed position, the housing further having an attachment device configured to be releasably attached to the recipient's skin, the housing further having an external housing surface extending away from the attachment device and facing outwardly transverse to the attachment device;
• releasably attaching the attachment device to the recipient's skin;
• releasably coupling an actuator tool with the percutaneous probe;
• releasably gripping a gripping portion of the actuator tool;
• and
• deploying the percutaneous probe into the recipient's skin by moving the actuator tool at least until the gripping portion is adjacent to and laterally offset from the external housing surface.