Patent ID: 6980864
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. An active electrode array comprising: at least four banks of active electrodes; wherein each bank of active electrodes includes a plurality of active electrodes; wherein each active electrode comprises a plurality of individual electrode contacts and an active switch integrally formed with the individual electrode contacts for individually activating the plurality of individual electrode contacts with a selected electrode stimulation current in response to electrode control signals; wherein the plurality of individual electrode contacts included within each active electrode comprises at least one lateral electrode contact and at least one medial electrode contact; wherein each active electrode includes a silicon die and switching circuitry hermetically seated on the silicon die and operatively connected to the lateral and medial electrode contacts, wherein the switching circuitry responds to the electrode control signals to selectively activate one or both of the medial or lateral electrode contacts; and wherein each bank of the active electrodes comprises a stack of the silicon dies of each active electrode belonging to that bank, over-molded with silastic.