Self expanding electrode cuff

Abstract

An expandable electrode cuff includes a first flange member, a second flange member, and a third flange member, which together provide a variable-sized lumen about a nerve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode cuff, comprising:
 a base member including a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall;   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 from the proximal end to the second distal end; and   a third flange member including a third distal end and a proximal end extending from the first side wall, wherein the third flange member is tapered from the proximal end to the third distal end and the third flange member has a cross-sectional length substantially less than a cross-sectional length of the second flange member, 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,   wherein both the respective first and third flange members are biased to extend in a first radial direction, wherein the second flange member is biased to extend in a second radial direction, opposite the first radial direction, and wherein the first flange member overlaps both the second and third flange members such that the third flange member, the second flange member, and the first flange member generally provide a variable-sized lumen about a nerve,   wherein a portion of the base member, including a portion of the respective first and second side walls, extends generally outward and away from a proximal end of the third flange member and from a proximal end of the second flange, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode cuff of  claim 1 , wherein 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 the proximal end of the third flange member having a first thickness substantially greater than a second thickness of the third distal end of the third flange member. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode cuff of  claim 2 , wherein the third flange member, the second flange member, and the base member are formed as a single unitary molded piece. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the first flange member is attached against a proximal portion of the third flange member, and wherein a cross-sectional length of the first flange member is substantially greater than the cross-sectional length of the third flange member. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode cuff of  claim 1 , the first side wall is spaced apart from and generally opposite the second side wall, and the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall, and the top wall is spaced apart and generally opposite from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable electrode cuff of  claim 1 , and further comprising an implantable stimulation system comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator;   a stimulation lead having a lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end; and   a connector positioned at the lead body proximal end for electrically connecting the stimulation lead and the implantable pulse generator,   wherein the expandable electrode cuff is positioned at, and supported by, the lead body distal end.   
     
     
         7 . The expandable electrode cuff of  claim 1 , wherein the second flange member is biased to extend in the second radial direction 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 at a point located laterally outward relative to the first side wall of the base member. 
     
     
         8 . 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;   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 from the proximal end to the second distal end with the proximal end of the second flange member having 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 flange member is tapered from the proximal end to the third distal end with the proximal end of the third flange member having a first thickness substantially greater than a second thickness of the third distal end of the third flange member, and wherein the proximal end of the first flange member is attached to a proximal portion of the third flange member,   wherein both the respective first and third flange members are biased to extend in a first radial direction, wherein the second flange member is biased to extend in a second radial direction, opposite the first radial direction, and wherein the first flange member overlaps both the second and third flange members such that the third flange member, the second flange member, and the first flange member generally maintain a variable-sized lumen to accommodate a changing size of a nerve.   
     
     
         9 . The electrode cuff of  claim 8 , wherein the third flange member is biased to position the third distal end above the first side wall of the base member without extending over the top wall of the base member. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode cuff of  claim 9 , wherein the first flange member is biased to extend in the first radial direction over both the top wall of the base member and the second flange member, and the second flange member is biased to extend in the second radial direction 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 at a point located laterally outward relative to the first side wall of the base member. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode cuff of  claim 10 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode cuff of  claim 11 , wherein the length of the first flange member is configured to position the first flange member to overlap substantially the entire length of the second flange member. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode cuff of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the base member, including a portion of the respective first and second side walls, extends generally outward and away from a proximal end of the third flange member and from a proximal end of the second flange, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The electrode cuff of  claim 13 , the first side wall is spaced apart from and generally opposite the second side wall, and the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall, and the top wall is spaced apart and generally opposite from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode cuff of  claim 8 , wherein the third flange member, the second flange member, and the base member are formed as a single unitary molded piece. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode cuff of  claim 8 , and further comprising an implantable stimulation system comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator;   a stimulation lead having a lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end; and   a connector positioned at the lead body proximal end for electrically connecting the stimulation lead and the implantable pulse generator,   wherein the expandable electrode cuff is positioned at, and supported by, the lead body distal end.   
     
     
         17 . An electrode cuff comprising:
 a base member including a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall;   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 from the proximal end to the second distal end; and   a third flange member including a third distal end and a proximal end extending from the first side wall, wherein the third flange member is tapered from the proximal end to the third distal end and the third flange member has a cross-sectional length substantially less than a cross-sectional length of the second flange member, 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,   wherein both the respective first and third flange members are biased to extend in a first radial direction, wherein the second flange member is biased to extend in a second radial direction, opposite the first radial direction, and wherein the first flange member overlaps both the second and third flange members such that the third flange member, the second flange member, and the first flange member generally provide a variable-sized lumen about a nerve,   wherein the proximal end of the first flange member is attached against a proximal portion of the third flange member, and wherein a cross-sectional length of the first flange member is substantially greater than the cross-sectional length of the third flange member, and   wherein a portion of the base member, including a portion of the respective first and second side walls, extends generally outward and away from a proximal end of the third flange member and from a proximal end of the second flange, respectively.   
     
     
         18 . The electrode cuff of  claim 17 , wherein the third flange member, the second flange member, and the base member are formed as a single unitary molded piece. 
     
     
         19 . The electrode cuff of  claim 18 , the first side wall is spaced apart from and generally opposite the second side wall, and the bottom wall extends from the first side wall to the second side wall, and the top wall is spaced apart and generally opposite from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The electrode cuff of  claim 18 , wherein 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 the proximal end of the third flange member having a first thickness substantially greater than a second thickness of the third distal end of the third flange member