Method of routing electrical current to bodily tissues via implanted passive conductors

A system configured to electrically stimulate a target body tissue in a subject comprising:

• a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode configured to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, and to transmit electrical current to the target body tissue;
• a stimulator external to the subject's body, electrically connected to the surface cathodic and the surface anodic electrodes, the stimulator supplying direct, pulsatile, or alternating current to the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• an implant configured to pick up at least a portion of the electrical current flowing between the surface cathodic electrode and surface anodic electrode and transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue, the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between its ends, the pick-up end forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current being applied to flow through the conductor, in preference to the electrical current flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue, wherein the implant is configured to pick up the portion of the electrical current via resistive coupling.

A method for electrically stimulating a target body tissue in a subject comprising:

• implanting an implant entirely under the subject's skin, the implant being configured to act as a conductive pathway for at least a portion of an electrical current flowing between a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode to be positioned in spaced relationship on the subject's skin and to transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue,
• the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between the pick-up end and the stimulating end, the pick-up end being positioned in subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode and forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current to flow through the conductor, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end being positioned proximate to the target body tissue and forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of electrical current to the target body tissue;
• positioning the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in spaced relationship on the subject's skin to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, with the surface cathodic electrode positioned over the pick-up end of the electrical conductor so the portion of the current is transmitted through the conductor to the target body tissue, and so that the current flows through the target body tissue and returns to the anodic surface electrode through body tissues or through an implanted electrical return conductor extending between the target body tissue and subcutaneous tissue located below the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• applying direct, pulsatile or alternating electrical current between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode to cause the portion of the electrical current to flow through the implant to stimulate the target body tissue, wherein the portion of the electrical current flows to the implant via resistive coupling.

A method of treating a disorder in a subject comprising:

• implanting an implant entirely under the subject's skin, the implant configured to act as a conductive pathway for at least a portion of an electrical current flowing between a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode to be positioned in spaced relationship on the subject's skin and to transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue,
• the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between the pick-up end and the stimulating end, the pick-up end being positioned in subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode and forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current to flow through the conductor, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end being positioned proximate to the target body tissue and forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of electrical current to the target body tissue;
• positioning the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in spaced relationship on the subject's skin to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, with the surface cathodic electrode positioned over the pick-up end of the electrical conductor so the portion of the current is transmitted through the conductor to the target body tissue, and so that the current flows through the target body tissue and returns to the anodic surface electrode through body tissues or through an implanted electrical return conductor extending between the target body tissue and subcutaneous tissue located below the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• applying electrical current between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in a cyclical waveform at a frequency capable of blocking the target body tissue so as to treat the disorder, wherein the portion of the electrical current flows to the implant via resistive coupling.

A system configured to electrically stimulate a target body tissue in a subject comprising:

• a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode configured to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, and to transmit electrical current to the target body tissue;
• a stimulator external to the subject's body, electrically connected to the surface cathodic and the surface anodic electrodes, the stimulator supplying direct, pulsatile, or alternating current to the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• an implant configured to pick up at least a portion of the electrical current flowing between the surface cathodic electrode and surface anodic electrode and transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue, the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between its ends, the pick-up end forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current being applied to flow into and through the conductor without magnetic inductive coupling, in preference to the electrical current flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue.

A method for electrically stimulating a target body tissue in a subject comprising:

• implanting an implant entirely under the subject's skin, the implant being configured to act as a conductive pathway for at least a portion of an electrical current flowing between a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode to be positioned in spaced relationship on the subject's skin and to transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue,
• the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between the pick-up end and the stimulating end, the pick-up end being positioned in subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode and forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current to flow into and through the conductor without magnetic inductive coupling, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end being positioned proximate to the target body tissue and forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of electrical current to the target body tissue;
• positioning the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in spaced relationship on the subject's skin to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, with the surface cathodic electrode positioned over the pick-up end of the electrical conductor so the portion of the current is transmitted through the conductor to the target body tissue, and so that the current flows through the target body tissue and returns to the anodic surface electrode through body tissues or through an implanted electrical return conductor extending between the target body tissue and subcutaneous tissue located below the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• applying direct, pulsatile or alternating electrical current between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode to cause the portion of the electrical current to flow through the implant to stimulate the target body tissue.

A method of treating a disorder in a subject comprising:

• implanting an implant entirely under the subject's skin, the implant configured to act as a conductive pathway for at least a portion of an electrical current flowing between a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode to be positioned in spaced relationship on the subject's skin and to transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue,
• the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up end and a stimulating end and being insulated between the pick-up end and the stimulating end, the pick-up end being positioned in subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode and forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current to flow into and through the conductor without magnetic inductive coupling, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, such that the target body tissue is stimulated, and the stimulating end being positioned proximate to the target body tissue and forming an electrical termination to deliver the portion of electrical current to the target body tissue;
• positioning the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in spaced relationship on the subject's skin to make direct electrical contact with the subject's skin, with the surface cathodic electrode positioned over the pick-up end of the electrical conductor so the portion of the current is transmitted through the conductor to the target body tissue, and so that the current flows through the target body tissue and returns to the anodic surface electrode through body tissues or through an implanted electrical return conductor extending between the target body tissue and subcutaneous tissue located below the surface anodic electrode;
• and
• applying electrical current between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode in a cyclical waveform at a frequency capable of blocking the target body tissue so as to treat the disorder.