Patent ID: 8340785

Claim:
An expandable electrode cuff of an implantable stimulation system, comprising: a base member including a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein the first side wall is spaced apart from and generally opposite the second side wall, the top wall is spaced apart from and generally opposite to the bottom wall, and wherein the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall; and a first flange member including a proximal end and a first distal end; a second flange member including a second distal end and a proximal end extending from the second side wall, wherein the second flange member is tapered such that the proximal end of the second flange member has a first thickness substantially greater than a second thickness of the second distal end of the second flange member; and a third flange member including a third distal end and a proximal end extending from the first side wall, wherein the third distal end is positioned above the first side wall of the base member without extending over the top wall of the base member, and wherein the third flange member is tapered such that the proximal end of the third flange member has a first thickness substantially greater than a second thickness of the third distal end of the third flange member, wherein the third flange member, the second flange member, and the base member are formed as a single unitary molded piece, wherein the proximal end of the first flange member is fixedly engaged against the third flange member and the first flange member is biased to extend, from the third flange member, over both the top wall of the base member and the second flange member, and wherein the second flange member is biased to extend over the top wall of the base member to cause the second distal end to be spaced above, and in releasable contact with, the third distal end so that the third flange member and the second flange member form a lumen with the first flange member overlapping both the second and third flange members, and wherein a cross-sectional length of each respective first and second flange member is substantially greater than a cross-sectional length of the third flange member.