Selective depth electrode deployment for electrical stimulation
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorWarren L. Starkebaum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed toward stimulation of a selected tissue layer. A device is attached to a target tissue by applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity of the device and advancing a needle into tissue within the vacuum cavity. The depth on the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment at the selected tissue layer. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward an implantable medical device comprising a device housing defining a vacuum cavity, and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, and a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode.
Claims32
An implantable medical device comprising:
- a device housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity;
- an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity;
- and
- a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode, wherein the lead extends outside the device housing.
A system comprising:
- an electrode assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, and
- an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity;
- an electrical stimulator located outside of the housing of the electrode assembly;
- and
- a lead comprising at least one conductor that extends outside the housing of the electrode assembly and electrically couples the electrical stimulator to the electrode.
A method comprising:
- applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity;
- advancing an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, wherein the electrode is coupled to at least one conductor in a lead that extends outside the electrode assembly housing, and wherein the lead is coupled to an electrical stimulator that is located outside of the electrode assembly housing;
- and
- delivering electrical stimulation from the electrical stimulator to the tissue via the lead and the electrode.
An implantable medical device comprising:
- a device housing defining first and second vacuum cavities and one or more vacuum ports for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities;
- and
- an electrode that is movable into at least one of the vacuum cavities of the device housing to contact the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.
A method comprising:
- applying vacuum pressure to at least one of a first and second vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the respective vacuum cavity;
- advancing an electrode that is movable into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities of the housing to contact the tissue drawn into the at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities is selected to permit deployment of the electrode at a selected layer of the tissue;
- and
- delivering electrical stimulation to the tissue via the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.