Implantable electrode array assembly with extraction sleeve/tether

Abstract

An implantable electrode array including a carrier on which plural electrodes are disposed. Also disposed on the carrier is an array antenna over which signals are wirelessly received. A tether is connected to the carrier. A tether antenna is attached to the tether. After the electrode array is implanted, during a trial period instructions and power are transmitted to the array antenna over the tether antenna. If the trial is successful, the tether is disconnected from the electrode array. If the trial is not successful and extraction of the array is necessary, extraction is accomplished by pulling on the tether. Electrode array removal may be facilitated by the pulling of the array into an extraction tube disposed over the tether.

1 . An implantable electrode array assembly, said assembly including:
 a carrier;   a plurality of electrodes disposed on said carrier, said electrodes designed to flow current through tissue;   an array antenna disposed on said carrier for wirelessly receiving signals;   a control circuit disposed on said carrier, said control circuit connected to said electrodes and said antenna, said control circuit configured to receive signals from said antenna and, based on the received signals, cause current to be selectively sourced from at least one said electrode and sunk into at least one said electrode; and   a tether connected to said carrier, said tether including a tether antenna over which signals are wirelessly transmitted to said array antenna.   
   
   
       2 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said tether is in the form of a sleeve that is disposed over said array antenna and said tether antenna is attached to said sleeve so as to extend at least partially over said array antenna. 
   
   
       3 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said tether is a substrate that is attached to said carrier so as to at least partially subtend over or under said array antenna; and   said tether antenna is disposed on said tether substrate so as to be on a portion of said substrate that subtends said array antenna.   
   
   
       4 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a wire extends through said tether and at least partially through said carrier so as to connect said tether to said carrier, and said wire is at least partially retractable through said tether so that the retraction of said wire disconnects said wire and said tether from said carrier. 
   
   
       5 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said wire is said tether antenna. 
   
   
       6 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible web connects said tether to said carrier. 
   
   
       7 . A method of implanting an electrode array against tissue, said method including the steps of
 implanting an electrode array against the tissue, the array including: a carrier; a plurality of electrodes disposed on said carrier, said electrodes designed to flow current through tissue; an array antenna disposed on said carrier for wirelessly receiving signals; a control circuit disposed on said carrier, said control circuit connected to said electrodes and said antenna, said control circuit configured to receive signals from said antenna and, based on the received signals, cause current to be selectively sourced from at least one said electrode and sunk into at least one said electrode; and a tether connected to said carrier, said tether including an a tether antenna over which signals are wirelessly transmitted to said array antenna;   transmitting signals over the tether antenna to the array antenna so as to cause current to flow between the electrodes that results in current flow through the tissue;   evaluating whether or not the current flow through the tissue provides a beneficial therapy;   if the current flow through the tissue does not provide beneficial therapy, pulling on the tether to extract the electrode array from the tissue;   if the current flow through the tissue provides beneficial therapy, disconnecting the tether from the carrier and withdrawing the carrier away from the tissue; and   wirelessly transmitting signals to the array antenna through an antenna other than the tether antenna that results in the continued current flow between the electrodes.   
   
   
       8 . The method of implanting an electrode array of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the tether is connected to the array carrier by a web; and   said step of disconnecting the tether from the array carrier includes the step of severing the web that extends between the carrier and the tether.   
   
   
       9 . The method of implanting an electrode array of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the tether is connected to the carrier by a wire; and   said step of disconnecting the tether from the array carrier includes the step of at least partially withdrawing the wire from the tether so that said withdrawal of the wire results in the disconnection of the wire from the array carrier.   
   
   
       10 . The method of implanting an electrode array of  claim 9 , wherein in said step of transmitting signals over the tether antenna to the array antenna, the wire that connects the tether to the array carrier functions as the tether antenna. 
   
   
       11 . The method of implanting an electrode array of  claim 7 , wherein said step of evaluating whether or not the current flow through the tissue provides a beneficial therapy includes the step of evaluating whether or not the side effects of the current flow are tolerable. 
   
   
       12 . The method of implanting an electrode array of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the array carrier has a width; and   as part of said extraction step, the electrode array is pulled into an extraction tube, the extraction tube having a lumen small than the width of the array carrier and during said pulling of the electrode array into the extraction sleeve, the array carrier is folded into the extraction tube lumen.