Implantable Fluid Delivery Apparatuses and Implantable Electrode

Abstract

An electrode for an implantable prosthesis includes a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts and a back end including one or more metal contacts. The electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end. The cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter. The cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end.

1 . An electrode for an implantable prosthesis, the electrode comprising:
 a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts; and   a back end including one or more metal contacts,   wherein the electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end, wherein the cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter, and the cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end.   
     
     
         2 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible front end and the back end are comprised of a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         3 . An electrode according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the metal contacts is connected to a wire that runs through the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         4 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible front end comprises about one half the mass of the back end. 
     
     
         5 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fluid outlets. 
     
     
         6 . An electrode according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more fluid outlets is in communication with at least one fluid channel. 
     
     
         7 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the back end includes at least two segments, the two segments configured to be held together in one configuration and configured to be at least partially disconnected from one another in another configuration. 
     
     
         8 . An electrode according to  claim 7 , wherein one segment has a slot along its length and another segment has a rail along its length that fits within the slot. 
     
     
         9 . An electrode according to  claim 7 , wherein one segment has a ribbon along its length to provide sufficient rigidity to the back end when the one segment is disconnected from the other segment, wherein the ribbon is not connected to the one or more contacts in the flexible front end and to the one or more contacts in the back end. 
     
     
         10 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper disposed upon an outer wall of the electrode for limiting the extent of implantation. 
     
     
         11 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the flexible front end is about one half to about one quarter of the cross section of the back end. 
     
     
         12 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal contacts in the flexible front end are disposed on one side of the electrode and the metal contacts in the back end are disposed on both sides of the electrode.