Patent ID: 9314614
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: A61N

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for stimulating tissue, the apparatus comprising: an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a circumference, a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate member, the central lumen sized to receive a stylet for advancement of the elongate member slidably thereover; a plurality of stimulating regions coupled with the elongate member, the stimulating regions arranged along the elongate member and axially spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the stimulating regions disposed near the distal end, the stimulating regions being adapted to pass current into the tissue, and wherein at least one stimulating region consists of three independent stimulation sites, each of the stimulating sites having one stimulation electrode, the stimulation sites spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by an insulating material, wherein each stimulation site may be stimulated independently of each of the other stimulation sites, wherein the three stimulation sites and the insulating material therebetween are arranged along the circumference of the elongate member to form a closed annular ring, the annular ring adapted to steer a volume of therapeutic electric current into the tissue by the stimulation of one or more of the stimulation electrodes, in order to shape a volume of stimulated tissue; a single distal electrode disposed at a distalmost end of the elongate member; an insulating material extending distally from the plurality of stimulating regions to the single distal electrode, a ring electrode extending around an entirety of the circumference of the elongate member and disposed proximal to at least one of the plurality of stimulating regions; a first plurality of conductors electrically coupled with the stimulation electrodes; a plurality of recording electrodes disposed adjacent the stimulating regions, the plurality of recording electrodes adapted to measure local tissue potentials, wherein the ring electrode is one of the recording electrodes; and a second plurality of conductors electrically coupled with the recording electrodes; wherein the first plurality of conductors are arranged in one or more groups and the second plurality of conductors are arranged in one or more groups, and wherein the one or more groups of the first plurality of conductors courses separately from the one or more groups of the second plurality of electrodes.