3959 results about "Electrode Contact" patented technology

Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing electrode-tissue contact for tissue ablation. An exemplary electrode contact sensing system comprises an electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft. At least one electro-mechanical sensor is operatively associated with the electrode within the catheter shaft. The at least one electro-mechanical sensor is responsive to movement of the electrode by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of movement. The system may also include an output device electrically connected to the at least one electro-mechanical sensor. The output device receives the electrical signals for assessing a level of contact between the electrode and a tissue.

An implantable medical lead for stimulation of the sacral nerves comprises a lead body which includes a distal end and a proximal end, and the distal end having at least one electrode contact having a length of between 0.10 and 1.50 inches extending longitudinally from the distal end toward the proximal end. The lead body at its proximal end may be coupled to a pulse generator, additional intermediate wiring, or other stimulation device. The implantable medical lead can comprise a first and second electrode contacts. The second electrode contact has a length of between 0.030 and 1.00 extending longitudinally from a point approximately 1.00 from the distal end toward the proximal end. The first and second electrode contacts do no overlap longitudinally. The implantable lead is implanted by taking the lead and implanting near the sacral nerves and then connecting to a pulse generator.

An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for the generation and control of energy delivery in a dosage to elicit a therapeutic response in diseased tissue. A balloon catheter can have electrodes attached to a power generator and controller such that the balloon and electrodes contact tissue during energy treatment. Energy selectively may be applied to tissue based on measured impedance to achieve gentle heating. Calibration of the apparatus and identification of attached accessories by computing the circuit impedance prior to energy dosage facilitate regulation of power delivery about a set point. Energy delivery can be controlled to achieve substantially uniform bulk tissue temperature distribution. Energy delivery may beneficially affect nerve activity.

Provided is a semiconductor memory device including cylinder type storage nodes and a method of fabricating the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate including switching devices; a recessed insulating layer including storage contact plugs therein, wherein the storage contact plugs are electrically connected to the switching devices and the recessed insulating layer exposes at least some portions of upper surfaces and side surfaces of the storage contact plugs. The semiconductor device further includes cylinder type storage nodes each having a lower electrode. The lower electrode contacting the at least some portions of the exposed upper surfaces and side surfaces of the storage node contact plugs.

A stimulation system is disclosed that may include a stimulator unit coupled to electrode contacts on a cuff. In one embodiment, the cuff may be placed at least partially around a nerve. The stimulation system may include at least two electrode contacts disposed on the cuff such that a distance between the at least two electrode contacts various along a length of the electrode contacts. In another embodiment, a plurality of electrode contacts are disposed on the cuff such that distances between at least one electrode contact within the plurality of electrode contacts and each electrode contact immediately adjacent to the at least one electrode contact are different. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

A method for programming a deep brain stimulator implanted in a target region of a brain of a living subject for optimal stimulation, wherein the deep brain stimulator comprises at least one electrode having a plurality of electrode contacts spaced apart from each other, and any portion of the brain of the living subject is identifiable by a set of corresponding spatial coordinates. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of creating an efficacy atlas in which any spatial coordinates for a position in a target region of the brain of the living subject are related to a position with corresponding atlas coordinates in the efficacy atlas, and each position in the atlas coordinates of the efficacy atlas is associated with an efficacy of stimulation at a corresponding position in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; acquiring a position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; mapping the acquired position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject onto a corresponding position in the efficacy atlas so as to determine the efficacy of stimulation at the acquired position in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; and selecting one or more electrode contacts having the highest efficacy for stimulation.

A device comprises a head mounting arrangement sized and shaped to be worn on a user's head and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the arrangement so that, when the arrangement is worn on the user's head, the electrodes contact target portions of a scalp to detect electrical activity of a brain of the user in combination with an image capture device disposed on the arrangement so that, when the arrangement is worn on the user's head, a field of view of the image capture device includes a portion of an anatomy of the user and a processing unit generating EEG data from the electrical activity, wherein, when the EEG data is indicative of an epileptic event, the processing unit activates the image capture device to capture video data of the user and may store the EEG and / or the video data with transmission of warning signals to one or more remote displaying and / or computing arrangements.

An implantable medical lead for spinal cord, peripheral nerve or deep brain stimulation comprises a lead body which includes a deformable sigma segment preferably in the shape of a sine wave and a lead paddle coupled to the lead body at the distal end thereof. The lead body at its proximal end may be coupled to an implantable pulse generator, additional, intermediate wiring or other stimulation device. The lead paddle may comprise a plurality of electrode contacts for providing electrical stimulation to targeted human tissue. The lead body, which defines the sigma segment, in a plane, couples the lead paddle and pulse generator. The sigma segment provides flexing and bending of the wire when a patient shifts or moves, and especially provides longitudinal extension between the pulse generator and lead paddle.

The invention is a switched-matrix output for a multi-channel stimulator. The switch-matrix output system uses groups of switches connectively placed between N number of digital-to-analog convertors (DACs) and M electrode contacts to permit fewer, space-consuming DACs to be used in an implantable stimulator, thereby saving internal stimulator space. One embodiment of the switched matrix output uses switches to activate only one active-electrode subset of M electrode contacts at any one time, so that the total number of DACs contained in the stimulator can be less than the M total number of electrode contacts.

The vertical trench MOSFET comprises: an N type epitaxial region formed on an upper surface of an N+ type substrate having a drain electrode on a lower surface thereof; a gate trench extending from a front surface into the N type epitaxial region; a gate electrode positioned in the gate trench so as to interpose an insulator; a channel region formed on the N type epitaxial region; a source region formed on the channel region; a source electrode formed on the source region; a source trench extending from the front surface into the N type epitaxial region; and a trench-buried source electrode positioned in the source trench so as to interpose an insulator, wherein the source electrode contacts with the trench-buried source electrode.

An implantable lead having at least one electrode contact at or near its distal end prevents undesirable movement of the electrode contact from its initial implant location. One embodiment relates to a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead. A balloon may be positioned on the electrode lead array. The balloon is filled with air, liquid or a compliant material. When inflated, the balloon stabilizes the lead with respect to the spinal cord and holds the lead in place. The pressure of the balloon is monitored or otherwise controlled during the filling process in order to determine at what point the filling process should be discontinued. An elastic aspect of the balloon serves as a contained relief valve to limit the pressure the balloon may place on the surrounding tissues when the epidural space is constrained.

This invention relates to a front electrode / contact for use in an electronic device such as a photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode of a photovoltaic device or the like includes a multilayer coating including at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (e.g., of or including a material such as tin oxide, ITO, zinc oxide, or the like) and / or at least one conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer (e.g., based on silver, gold, or the like). In certain example instances, the multilayer front electrode coating may include one or more conductive metal(s) oxide layer(s) and / or one or more conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer(s) in order to provide for reduced visible light reflection, increased conductivity, cheaper manufacturability, and / or increased infrared (IR) reflection capability.

A vertical Field Effect Transistor (FET) comprising a vertical semiconductor nanowire is formed by the following steps. Create a columnar pore in a bottom dielectric layer formed on a bottom electrode. Fill the columnar pore by plating a vertical semiconductor nanowire having a bottom end contacting the bottom electrode. The semiconductor nanowire forms an FET device with a FET channel region between a source region and a drain region formed in distal ends of the vertical semiconductor nanowire. Form a gate dielectric layer around the channel region of the vertical semiconductor nanowire and then form a gate electrode around the gate dielectric layer. Form a top electrode contacting a top end of the vertical semiconductor nanowire.

Nanotube memory cells are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Lower and upper memory cell chambers are formed by forming a first trench overlying the first and second contacts in a nitride layer, forming a second trench overlying the first and second contacts in a dielectric layer, depositing a nitride layer on the combined lower and upper chambers, and patterning the nitride layer to form an access hole to the nanotube layer and a second access hole to the second contact. A conductive layer is then deposited and patterned to form a top electrode contact and a nanotube layer contact. The conductive material closes the aperture created by the access hole.

An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold.

An electrical medical lead is provided having two or more electrodes, electrically insulated from each other and electrically coupled to individually insulated filars in a multi-filar coiled conductor. When the lead is used with a medical device equipped with a switch matrix, electrodes are selected individually or simultaneously to serve as an anode or cathode in any unipolar, bipolar or multi-polar configuration for delivering stimulation and / or sensing signals in excitable tissue. In one embodiment, a tip electrode array is expandable for improving electrode contact with targeted tissue and stabilizing lead position.

A self-contained, portable headset carries a waveform source device and tissue interface circuits in a self-locating position for delivering treatment signals to a preselected area in the conch of the ear of a human subject. An electronics housing carries a waveform source device in communication with right and left tissue interface circuits, carried respectively in right and left earpiece housings. The headset carries each earpiece housing at a rearward and downward angle so that a protruding trunk enters the conch of the outer ear and contacts the conch generally below and rearwardly of the ear canal. An audio speaker delivers associated tones during treatment. An end wall of the trunk carries an array of electrodes contacts the preselected area in the conch of the ear.

A method of making a nonvolatile memory device includes fabricating a diode in a low resistivity, programmed state without an electrical programming step. The memory device includes at least one memory cell. The memory cell is constituted by the diode and electrically conductive electrodes contacting the diode.

An implantable electrode system, adapted for insertion into a cochlea, includes an elongate electrode array stored within a sheath. The electrode array has a multiplicity of electrode contacts carried on a flexible elongate carrier, which carrier is adapted for insertion into one of the spiraling ducts, e.g., the scala tympani, of the cochlea, and further has longitudinal channel or lumen that passes therethrough. 3-6 mm from the distal end of the electrode array. To insert the electrode system into the cochlea, a stylet wire is inserted into the channel or lumen of the electrode array while the electrode array is held within the sheath. The sheath is then removed, and the electrode array is then gently guided and pushed through a cochleostomy into the cochlea by extending the stylet wire to a desired depth. As the electrode array is thus inserted into the cochlea, the stylet wire is retracted and the electrode array remains implanted within the cochlea.

A III-nitride device includes a recessed electrode to produce a nominally off, or an enhancement mode, device. By providing a recessed electrode, a conduction channel formed at the interface of two III-nitride materials is interrupted when the electrode contact is inactive to prevent current flow in the device. The electrode can be a schottky contact or an insulated metal contact. Two ohmic contacts can be provided to form a rectifier device with nominally off characteristics. The recesses formed with the electrode can have sloped sides. The electrode can be formed in a number of geometries in conjunction with current carrying electrodes of the device. A nominally on device, or pinch resistor, is formed when the electrode is not recessed. A diode is also formed by providing non-recessed ohmic and schottky contacts through an insulator to an AlGaN layer.

This invention relates to a front electrode / contact for use in an electronic device such as a photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode of a photovoltaic device or the like includes a multilayer coating including at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (e.g., of or including a material such as tin oxide, ITO, zinc oxide, or the like) and / or at least one conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer (e.g., based on silver, gold, or the like). In certain example instances, the multilayer front electrode coating may include one or more conductive metal(s) oxide layer(s) and one or more conductive substantially metallic IR reflecting layer(s) in order to provide for reduced visible light reflection, increased conductivity, cheaper manufacturability, and / or increased infrared (IR) reflection capability. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode acts as not only a transparent conductive front contact / electrode but also a short pass filter that allows an increased amount of photons having high energy (such as in visible and near infra-red regions of the spectrum) into the active region or absorber of the photovoltaic device.

A bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a handle (5), a body (1) joined to the handle, and a jaw assembly (12) joined to the body and arranged such that manipulation of the handle allows the opposed jaws of the jaw assembly to be opened and closed with respect to one another. A first of said opposed jaws (14) has at least a first coagulating electrode, and the other of said opposed jaws (13) has at least a second coagulating electrode and a cutting electrode (16) separated from the second coagulating electrode by an insulating member (17). The instrument is manipulated at the surgical site such that the jaws of the jaw assembly (12) are open with respect to one another, with the cutting electrode (16) and at least one of the first and second coagulating electrodes contacting tissue at the surgical site. A radio frequency electrosurgical signal is supplied between the cutting electrode and the at least one coagulating electrode, and the electrosurgical instrument is moved while maintaining the jaws (13, 14) in their open position so as to cut tissue at the surgical site.