BIOLOGICAL TISSUE STIMULATOR WITH FLEXIBLE ELECTRODE CARRIER

摘要

A biological tissue stimulating apparatus is provided that is adapted for intraluminal implantation is an animal. The apparatus includes a flexible electrode carrier on which a plurality of exposed electrodes formed on a flexible insulating layer wherein the electrodes are to contact the tissue being stimulated. A separate electrical conductor extends from each electrode to a control circuit. The control circuit programmably selects pairs of electrodes for transluminally stimulating the biological tissue. The flexible electrode carrier is adapted to be deployed in a lumen of an organ of the animal, for example a blood vessel, in a spirally coiled form that expands upon being properly located in the lumen to secure the flexible electrode carrier against on to the inner wall of the lumen.