Electrode device for electrodiagnosis and/or electrotherapy

1. An electrode device for cardiological or neurological electrodiagnosis and/or electrotherapy, comprising:

an electrode body ( 12 ) that is elongated;

at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) in the vicinity of a distal end ( 24 ) of said electrode body ( 12 );

an electrode conductor ( 44 ) for electrical connection of said at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) wherein said electrode conductor ( 44 ) comprises a fibrous structure ( 52 ) with anisotropic conductivity wherein a specific conductivity of said electrode conductor ( 44 ) is significantly higher in a longitudinal direction along said electrode conductor than in a transverse direction across said electrode conductor;

wherein said fibrous structure ( 52 ) comprises individual fibers ( 54 ) comprising a fiber material wherein said individual fibers ( 54 ) comprise a plastic, conducting plastic or semiconductor material and wherein said individual fibers ( 54 ) have an insulating surface layer ( 56 ) that comprises a high resistance and wherein said insulating surface layer comprises said fiber material;

wherein said insulating surface layer further comprises

high resistance residues of said fiber material,

or

an oxidized portion of said fiber material;

wherein said fibrous structure comprises a solid fiber composite or a bundle said individual fibers ( 54 ); and,

wherein said bundle has centrally highly conducting fibers ( 58 ) which are surrounded by less highly conducting fibers ( 60 ), wherein longitudinal conductivity of said highly conducting fibers ( 60 ) gradually decreases radially.

2. The electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein said solid fiber composite comprises an elongated fiber bundle.

3. The electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein said bundle of said individual fibers ( 54 ) comprises loosely juxtaposed, twisted, braided, glued or pressed filaments.

4. The electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein said individual fibers themselves have an anisotropic significantly higher conductivity in a longitudinal direction along said individual fibers than in a transverse direction across said individual fibers.

5. The electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein said fibrous structure comprises individual fibers ( 54 ) in a number between several tens and several ten thousands.

6. The electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein said fibrous structure ( 52 ) comprises a combination of two or more materials.

7. An electrode device for cardiological or neurological electrodiagnosis and/or electrotherapy, comprising:

an electrode body ( 12 ) that is elongated;

at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) in the vicinity of a distal end ( 24 ) of said electrode body ( 12 );

an electrode conductor ( 44 ) for electrical connection of said at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) wherein said electrode conductor ( 44 ) comprises a fibrous structure ( 52 ) with anisotropic conductivity wherein a specific conductivity of said electrode conductor ( 44 ) is significantly higher in a longitudinal direction along said electrode conductor than in a transverse direction across said electrode conductor;

wherein said fibrous structure comprises a solid fiber composite or a bundle of individual fibers ( 54 ); and,

wherein said solid fiber composite or said bundle has centrally highly conducting fibers ( 58 ) which are surrounded by less highly conducting fibers ( 60 ), wherein longitudinal conductivity of said highly conducting fibers ( 60 ) gradually decreases radially.

8. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said solid fiber composite comprises an elongated fiber bundle.

9. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said bundle of individual fibers ( 54 ) comprises loosely juxtaposed, twisted, braided, glued or pressed filaments.

10. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said individual fibers themselves have an anisotropic significantly higher conductivity in a longitudinal direction along said individual fibers than in a transverse direction across said individual fibers.

11. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said fibrous structure ( 52 ) comprises individual fibers ( 54 ) that have an insulating surface layer ( 56 ) that comprises a high resistance.

12. The electrode device according to claim 11 , wherein said surface layer comprises an oxidized material.

13. The electrode device according to claim 11 , wherein said high resistance to insulating surface layer ( 56 ) comprises an applied coating.

14. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said fibrous structure comprises individual fibers ( 54 ) in a number between several tens and several ten thousands.

15. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said individual fibers ( 54 ) comprise a plastic, a metal, conducting plastic or semiconductor material.

16. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said fibrous structure ( 52 ) comprises a combination of two or more materials.

17. The electrode device according to claim 7 , wherein said bundle comprises:

active fibers ( 58 ); and,

passive fibers ( 62 ).

18. The electrode device according to claim 17 , further comprising an insulating jacket wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) are contained within said insulating jacket ( 64 ).

19. The electrode device according to claim 18 , wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) are galvanically connected to each other at least one end of said passive fibers in a merging node ( 66 ).

20. The electrode device according to claim 19 , wherein said merging node ( 66 ) is configured to connect to an implant housing ( 18 ) or implant electronics or to an implant housing and implant electronics.

21. The electrode device according to claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of said merging nodes ( 66 ) of said passive fibers ( 62 ), distributed over said elongated electrode body ( 12 ).

22. The electrode device according to claim 21 , wherein said electrode conductor comprises a jacket having conducting structures and wherein said plurality of merging modes ( 66 ) distributed over said electrode body ( 12 ) are electrically connected to said conducting structures on said jacket of said electrode conductor ( 44 ).

23. The electrode device according to claim 17 , wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) do not extend continuously throughout a length of said electrode conductor.

24. An electrode device for cardiological or neurological electrodiagnosis and/or electrotherapy, comprising:

an electrode body ( 12 ) that is elongated;

at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) in the vicinity of a distal end ( 24 ) of said electrode body ( 12 );

an electrode conductor ( 44 ) for electrical connection of said at least one electrode ( 14 , 16 ) wherein said electrode conductor ( 44 ) comprises a fibrous structure ( 52 ) with anisotropic conductivity wherein a specific conductivity of said electrode conductor ( 44 ) is significantly higher in a longitudinal direction along said electrode conductor than in a transverse direction across said electrode conductor;

wherein said fibrous structure ( 52 ) comprises individual fibers ( 54 ) comprising a fiber material wherein said individual fibers ( 54 ) comprise a plastic, conducting plastic or semiconductor material and wherein said individual fibers ( 54 ) have an insulating surface layer ( 56 ) that comprises a high resistance and wherein said insulating surface layer comprises said fiber material;

wherein said insulating surface layer further comprises

high resistance residues of said fiber material,

or

an oxidized portion of said fiber material;

wherein said fibrous structure comprises a solid fiber composite or a bundle said individual fibers ( 54 );

wherein said bundle comprises:

active fibers ( 58 );

passive fibers ( 62 );

an insulating jacket wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) are contained within said insulating jacket ( 64 ); and,

wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) are galvanically connected to each other at least one end of said passive fibers in a merging node ( 66 ).

25. The electrode device according to claim 24 , wherein said merging node ( 66 ) is configured to connect to an implant housing ( 18 ) or implant electronics or to an implant housing and implant electronics.

26. The electrode device according to claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of said merging nodes ( 66 ) of said passive fibers ( 62 ), distributed over said elongated electrode body ( 12 ).

27. The electrode device according to claim 26 , wherein said electrode conductor comprises a jacket having conducting structures and wherein said plurality of merging modes ( 66 ) distributed over said electrode body ( 12 ) are electrically connected to said conducting structures on said jacket of said electrode conductor ( 44 ).

28. The electrode device according to claim 24 , wherein said passive fibers ( 62 ) do not extend continuously throughout a length of said electrode conductor.