Patent ID: 7953498

Claim:
A stimulation system comprising: a device body comprising a lead having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the lead comprising, at least one terminal disposed on the proximal portion of the lead, and at least one conductor extending along the lead from the distal portion of the lead to the at least one terminal; and at least one anchoring unit disposed at the distal portion of the lead such that the at least one anchoring unit is entirely disposed distal to the lead, the at least one anchoring unit configured and arranged for anchoring the distal portion of the lead in a patient upon implantation so that the at least one anchoring unit at least partially surrounds at least one nerve of a patient, the anchoring unit being cuff-shaped and defining a slit extending along a length of the anchoring unit that is configured and arranged to enable the at least one nerve to pass through the slit as the anchoring unit is being coupled to the at least one nerve, the anchoring unit comprising at least one electrode coupled to the at least one conductor and a resorbable material that resorbs into the patient over a period of time after implantation, the resorption at least partially releasing the at least one electrode from the anchoring unit while the device body is implanted in the patient, the at least one anchoring unit is configured and arranged such that the period of time of resorption is sufficient to allow tissue ingrowth around the at least one electrode to anchor the at least one electrode prior to release of the at least one electrode due to at least a partial resorption of the anchoring unit.