Implantable cuff and method for functional electrical stimulation and monitoring

1. An implantable cuff comprising:

an elastic collar defining an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue, the elastic collar comprising:

a first arm member including a first tissue contacting portion and a first bendable region, wherein the first tissue contacting portion includes a first stiffening region, wherein the first stiffening region has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the first bendable region, and wherein the first bendable region has a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the first tissue contacting portion;

a second arm member, oppositely disposed from the first arm member, including a second tissue contacting portion and a second bendable region, wherein the second tissue contacting portion includes a second stiffening region, wherein the second stiffening region has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the second bendable region, and wherein the second bendable region has a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the second tissue contacting portion; and

a hinge region flexibly joining the first arm member and the second arm member and spacing apart the first tissue contacting portion and the second tissue contacting portion,

wherein the first arm member and the second arm member are configured for attachment between distal end portions of the first and second arm members, and

wherein the first bendable region and the second bendable region are distal to the first stiffening region and the second stiffening region,

respectively;

at least one conductive segment disposed on or within said first tissue contacting portion and second tissue contacting portion; and

at least one conductor in electrical communication with said at least one conductive segment, said at least one conductor being configured to operably mate with an apparatus capable of delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.

2. The implantable cuff of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first arm member and second arm member comprise one or more suture holes.

3. The implantable cuff of claim 1 , wherein said elastic collar has a multi-layered configuration.

4. The implantable cuff of claim 3 , wherein said elastic collar includes a first non-conductive sheet sandwiched between a backing sheet and a second non-conductive sheet.

5. The implantable cuff of claim 1 , wherein the first and second stiffening regions include one or more stiffening members.

6. The implantable cuff of claim 5 , wherein said one or more stiffening members has a modulus of elasticity greater than the modulus of elasticity of the first bending region and the second bending region.

7. The implantable cuff of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second bendable region includes a weakened section configured to tear at a pre-determined internal pressure of said elastic collar.

8. The implantable cuff of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second stiffening regions is configured to maintain the shape of the elastic collar while said hinge region and said first and second bendable regions impart said elastic collar with flexibility sufficient to bend about the internal body tissue.

9. A method of functional electrical stimulation and/or monitoring of an internal body tissue, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an implantable cuff, the implantable cuff including an elastic collar comprising:

a first arm member including a first tissue contacting portion and a first bendable region, wherein the first tissue contacting portion includes a first stiffening region, wherein the first stiffening region has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the first bendable region, and wherein the first bendable region has a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the first tissue contacting portion;

a second arm member, oppositely disposed from the first arm member, including a second tissue contacting portion and a second bendable region, wherein the second tissue contacting portion includes a second stiffening region, wherein the second stiffening region has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of the second bendable region, and wherein the second bendable region has a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the second tissue contacting portion; and

a hinge region flexibly joining the first arm member and the second arm member and spacing apart the first tissue contacting portion and the second tissue contacting portion,

wherein the first arm member and the second arm member are configured for

attachment between distal end portions of the first and second arm members, and

wherein the first bendable region and the second bendable region are distal to the first stiffening region and the second stiffening region,

respectively;

wherein at least one conductive segment disposed on or within the elastic collar, and at least one conductor in electrical communication with the at least one conductive segment;

placing the implantable cuff around the internal body tissue so that a non-circumferential force is applied to the internal body tissue without damaging the tissue; and

delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue using the conductive segment.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the internal body tissue is a nerve bundle or muscle filament.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein placing of the implantable cuff around the nerve bundle causes the fascicles of the nerve bundle to spread while also flattening the epineurium membrane.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one conductive segment is placed into electrical contact with one or more fascicles without penetrating the perineurium membrane of the nerve bundle.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein blood flow through the nerve bundle is not significantly decreased.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of placing the implantable cuff around the internal body tissue further includes securing the distal end portion of the first arm member to the distal end portion of the second arm member using one or more sutures.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein placing of the implantable cuff around the internal body tissue results in a tapered, transverse pressure gradient to opposing surfaces of the internal body tissue.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising releasing the implantable cuff from around the internal body tissue when a pre-determined internal pressure is exerted against a portion of the elastic collar.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein stimulation and monitoring are performed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein stimulation and monitoring are performed intermittently.