BRAIDED ELECTRODES

1 . A sterilizable electrode comprising a braid and having a plurality of electrically independent conductors, at least some of the conductors being in electrical communication with a plurality of sites on the electrode for sensing or stimulation.

2 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein the braid is tubular, flat, or figured.

3 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein said configuration has an alterable compliance.

4 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein said configuration has an alterable shape.

5 . The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a generator wherein the generator send electrical signals to the sites in a pre-selected spatial and temporal pattern.

6 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductors forms part of the braid.

7 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductors is laid into the braid.

8 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is a monofilament.

9 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor has a length that is at least 100 times greater than its diameter.

10 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are monofilaments.

11 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is greater than 1 μm in diameter.

12 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are greater than 1 μm in diameter.

13 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are less than 1 μm in diameter.

14 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is less than 100 nm in diameter.

15 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the conductors are less than 100 nm in diameter.

16 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least some of the conductors comprises metal, conductive polymer, conductive protein, or a conductive nanotube or nanofilament.

17 . The electrode of claim 1 in which at least a portion of the braid comprises fibroin, keratin, collagen, elastin, poly-L-lactic acid, polylysine, polyethylene oxide, polyaniline, a blend of polyethylene oxide/polyaniline , polyacrylonitrile, poly-ethylene-dioxythiophene, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polyacrylonitrile, polyaniline, or polylactic-co-glycolic acid.

18 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor comprises nichrome or stainless steel.

19 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductors comprise lithium doped polyanaline.

20 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor comprises carbon nanotubes.

21 . The electrode of claim 1 further comprising shape memory polymers or shape memory metals

22 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein the conductors are insulated with TEFLON® or Parylene-C.

23 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein the electrode further comprises a fiberoptic fiber strand

24 . The electrode of claim 23 wherein the fiberoptic fiber strand comprises quartz.

25 . The electrode of claim 23 wherein the fiberoptic strand is sputter-coated with any metal, gold, platinum, silver, iridium, or combinations thereof.

26 . The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a cannula, catheter, or other surgical device

27 . The electrode of claim 1 comprising a biodegradable material.

28 . The electrode of claim 27 wherein the biodegradable material comprises vicryl, sucrose, dextrose, carbowax, mannose, or polyethylene glycol.

29 . The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a material that is dissolvable.

30 . The electrode of claim 1 further comprising quantum dots.

31 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein at least one conductor is hollow.

32 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein said electrode forms at least one triode, tetrode, or polytrode.

33 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein said recording or stimulating sites are inside the braid.

34 . The electrode of claim 1 wherein said braid forms a part of a composite structure.

35 . A sterilizable electrode comprising a plurality of braids and having a plurality of electrically independent conductors, at least some of the conductors being in electrical communication with a plurality of sites on the electrode for sensing or stimulation.

36 . The electrode of claim 35 wherein the plurality of braids are arranged in an array.

37 . The electrode of claim 35 wherein the plurality of braids are arranged in a cuff configuration.

38 . A method of forming a sterilizable electrode comprising:

braiding a plurality of fibers onto, over or within a braiding form to form a braided structure, wherein at least some of the fibers are independently conductive; and

modifying at least some of the fibers to expose them to the environment, such exposure taking place at a plurality of sites;

the fibers being biocompatible and able to withstand sterilization.

39 . The method of claim 38 further comprising a plurality of independent conductors being laid into the braid.

40 . The method of claim 39 further comprising modifying at least some of the conductors by exposing them to the environment.

41 . The method of claim 38 further comprising mechanically altering the compliance of the braid.

42 . The method of claim 38 further comprising mechanically altering the shape of the braid.

43 . The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is hollow.

44 . The method of claim 38 wherein said fibers are braiding as a Chinese finger trap.

45 . The method of claim 38 further comprising braiding a plurality of shape memory polymers within the braided structure.

46 . The method of claim 38 further comprising braiding a plurality of shape memory metals within the braided structure.

47 . The method of claim 38 further comprising microelectromechanical systems within the braided structure.

48 . The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is biodegradable or dissolvable.

49 . The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form has shape memory properties.

50 . The method of claim 38 wherein the braiding form is conductive.

51 . The method of claim 3 8 wherein the braiding form has an alterable compliance.

52 . The method of claim 38 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form.

53 . The method of claim 52 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form with adhesive.

54 . The method of claim 52 wherein the braided structure is affixed to the braiding form with biodegradable or dissolvable material.