Adjustable nerve electrode

摘要

Example adjustable electrodes are described. One example adjustable electrode includes two or more contacts configured to selectively deliver high frequency alternating current (HFAC) to a nerve in an amount sufficient to produce an HFAC nerve conduction block in the nerve. The example adjustable electrode also includes a logic configured to selectively control which of the two or more contacts deliver HFAC to the nerve to control whether the nerve electrode is in a first (e.g., onset response mitigating) configuration or in a second (e.g., HFAC nerve conduction block maintenance) configuration. The electrode may be used in applications including, but not limited to, nerve block applications, and nerve stimulation applications. The electrode may be adjusted by changing attributes including, but not limited to, the number, length, orientation, distance between, surface area, and distance from a nerve of contacts to be used to deliver the HFAC.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
controlling an adjustable nerve electrode to enter a first geometric configuration to mitigate an onset response, the adjustable nerve electrode having a set of contacts configured to selectively apply a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) through the adjustable nerve electrode to a nerve; while the adjustable nerve electrode is in the first geometric configuration, applying a first HFAC through the adjustable nerve electrode, where the first HFAC has a threshold current sufficient to establish an HFAC nerve conduction block in the nerve; controlling the adjustable nerve electrode to enter a second geometric configuration by altering a physical relationship of the set of contacts to the nerve; and while the adjustable nerve electrode is in the second geometric configuration, applying a second HFAC through the adjustable nerve electrode, where the second HFAC has a current sufficient to maintain the HFAC nerve conduction block in the nerve.