Patent ID: 9072886
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A system for electrically stimulating a target body tissue in a subject, comprising: a surface cathodic electrode and a surface anodic electrode configured to make electrical contact with the subject's skin and to transmit electrical current when positioned in a spaced relationship on the subject's skin; a stimulator external to the subject's body, electrically connected to the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode, the stimulator being configured to supply direct, pulsatile, or alternating current to the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode at a frequency from 1 Hz to 30 kHz; and an implant configured to pick up a portion of the electrical current flowing between the surface cathodic electrode and the surface anodic electrode and to transmit the portion of the electrical current to the target body tissue, the implant comprising a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend, once implanted, from subcutaneous tissue located below the surface cathodic electrode to the target body tissue, the electrical conductor having a pick-up portion and a stimulating portion and being insulated between its pick-up portion and its stimulating portion, the pick-up portion forming an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the electrical current to flow through the conductor, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface cathodic and anodic electrodes, and the stimulating portion forming an electrical termination for delivering the portion of electrical current to the target body tissue.