Patent ID: 6826430
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An implantable tissue stimulation prosthesis comprising:an implantable hermetically sealed case; an active electrode array external to the hermetically sealed case comprising at least four active electrodes, wherein each active electrode includes first and second electrode contacts, decoding circuitry, a first switch coupled to the decoding circuitry and the first electrode contact, and a second switch coupled to the decoding circuitry and the second electrode contact, and wherein the decoding circuitry responds to electrode control signals and causes the first and second switches to selectively activate one or both of the first or second electrode contacts, and further wherein the first and second electrode contacts of each active electrode comprise at least one lateral electrode contact and at least one medial electrode contact; a battery carried within said sealed case; and electronic circuitry housed within said sealed case, said electronic circuitry including telemetry circuitry that receives programming signals from an external source, processing circuitry that generates the electrode control signals, control circuitry that applies the electrode control signals to the switching circuitry of the active electrode array, and pulse generation circuitry that generates stimulation currents that are applied through selected ones of the first and second electrode contacts of the active electrodes of the electrode array.