Patent ID: 7120499

Claim:
A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising at least one electrode sized and configured for implantation in a targeted neural or muscular tissue region, a percutaneous lead electrically coupled to the electrode and including an exposed region adapted to be projecting through an external skin surface, a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse, a communication bay carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, the communication bay being sized and configured to establish a communication link between the circuitry and an external device, the communication bay also being sized and configured to hold a power source, and an electrode connection element carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, the electrode connection element being sized and configured to electrically engage at least a portion of the exposed region of the lead to electrically couple the electrode to the circuitry to percutaneously apply the stimulation pulse to the tissue region.