Granted Patent B2

US 12,654,002 · App. 18/468,730 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Hemang Trivedi (Valencia, CA); William Andrew Brandt (Castaic, CA); Sahar Elyahoodayan (Los Angeles, CA); Christopher Reed Jenney (Valencia, CA)

Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research

A61N1/0556A61N1/3606

Abstract

Claims (40)

1 . An electrode lead, comprising:

an elongate lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a nerve cuff including

a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body, the cuff body configured to be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, having a pre-set furled state that defines an inner lumen, being movable to an unfurled state, including a front layer and a rear layer, and defining a length and a width in the unfurled state that is greater than the length,

a plurality of electrically conductive members located between the front and rear layers of the cuff body, each electrically conductive member defining a front side, a rear side and an outer perimeter and including a plurality of holes that extend from the front side to the rear side and that are located around the outer perimeter, and

a plurality of electrical conductors extending through the lead body from at least some of the electrically conductive members to the proximal end of the lead body,

wherein the cuff body front layer includes a plurality of windows that are respectively aligned with and located inwardly of the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members, and a plurality of window frames that extend from the windows to the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members, and

wherein the cuff body includes a plurality of anchors that respectively extend through the electrically conductive member holes and connect the window frames to the cuff body rear layer.

2 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

at least some of the electrically conductive members are electrically connected to one another in series.

3 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

at least some of the holes are circular in cross-section.

4 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

at least some of the holes not circular in cross-section.

5 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

at least some of the electrically conductive members include four side edges that define the perimeter; and

there are a plurality of holes adjacent to each of the side edges.

6 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

at least some of the electrically conductive members include a single curved side edge that defines the perimeter; and

there are a plurality of holes adjacent to the entire curved side edge.

7 . An electrode lead, comprising:

an elongate lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a nerve cuff including

a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body, the cuff body configured to be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, having a pre-set furled state that defines an inner lumen, being movable to an unfurled state, including a front layer and a rear layer, and defining a length and a width in the unfurled state that is greater than the length,

a plurality of electrically conductive members located between the front and rear layers of the cuff body, each electrically conductive member defining a front side, a rear side and an outer perimeter and including a channel that extends from the front side toward, but not to, the rear side and that is coextensive with the outer perimeter, and

a plurality of electrical conductors extending through the lead body from at least some of the electrically conductive members to the proximal end of the lead body,

wherein the cuff body front layer includes a plurality of windows that are respectively aligned with and located inwardly of the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members such that portions of the electrically conductive members located inwardly of the windows are exposed to the inner lumen.

8 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

at least some of the electrically conductive members are electrically connected to one another in series.

9 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

at least some of the electrically conductive members includes side edges that define the outer perimeter; and

the channels is inwardly of the side edges.

10 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the channels each define an open end, that is aligned with the contact member front side, and a closed end; and

at least some of the electrically conductive members include a plurality of holes that extend from the closed end of channels to the rear side of the electrically conductive members.

11 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the cuff body front layer includes a plurality of window frames that extend from the windows to the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members; and

the cuff body includes a plurality of anchors respectively associated with the plurality of window frames that connect the window frames to the cuff body rear layer.

12 . An electrode lead as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the anchors each include a first portion that is located within the channel of the associated electrically conductive member and a plurality of second portions that are located within the holes of the associated electrically conductive member.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (143)