Grooved Electrode and Wireless Microtransponder System

Abstract

A grooved electrode adapted for interfacing cellular matter is provided. The grooved electrode includes grooves adapted for electrically interfacing the grooved electrode with cellular matter growing along the body of the grooved electrode. Further, the grooved electrode includes a wireless transponder adapted to electrically interface with cellular matter and to relay such interactions via RF signals. The RF signals received by the wireless transponder are modulated in response to electrical signals generated by the cellular matter, which are detected by the transponder. The grooved electrode may be implanted within peripheral nerves for treating various neurological conditions, which may include nerve rehabilitation and prosthetic actuation, severe pain, obstructive sleep apnea and so forth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating pain, comprising:
 implanting a neurostimulation device having a housing and an electrode, wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted so that the electrode is proximate to a peripheral nerve;   transmitting electromagnetic signals to the implanted neurostimulation device; and   generating a stimulation charge on the electrode to stimulate the peripheral nerve, thereby causing paresthesia that reduces pain,   wherein the housing is approximately the length of an active current zone of a peak spike phase of the peripheral nerve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted inductively. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is less than two millimeters long. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a groove. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the electrode is within the groove. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an outer surface formed of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the biocompatible material is polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), parylene, polyurethane of polycarbonate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the groove extends along an outer portion of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the groove extends along an inner portion of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrode is disposed along a recessed floor of the groove, wherein the groove is configured to facilitate the growth of nerve fibers for electrically interfacing the electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is formed of carbon nano-tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the groove is partially filled with neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein wire leads extend from the housing, and wherein the wire leads are configured to electrically connect the housing to systems external to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 providing instructions to implant a neurostimulation device having a housing and an electrode into a person,   wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted so that the electrode is proximate to a peripheral nerve in the person,   wherein the housing is approximately the length of an active current zone of a peak spike phase of the peripheral nerve, and   wherein the neurostimulation device is configured to receive electromagnetic signals from an external device and generate a stimulation charge on the electrode to stimulate the peripheral nerve, thereby causing paresthesia that reduces pain.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted inductively, wherein the housing is less than two millimeters long, wherein the housing includes a groove, wherein the electrode is within the groove, wherein the housing has an outer surface formed of a biocompatible material comprising polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), parylene, polyurethane of polycarbonate, or combinations thereof, wherein the electrode is disposed along a recessed floor of the groove, wherein the groove is configured to facilitate the growth of nerve fibers for electrically interfacing the electrodes, wherein the electrode is formed of carbon nano-tubes, wherein the groove is partially filled with neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the electrode, wherein wire leads extend from the housing, and wherein the wire leads are configured to electrically connect the housing to systems external to the housing. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 transmitting electromagnetic signals to a neurostimulation device,   wherein the neurostimulation device has a housing and an electrode,   wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted in a body such that the electrode is proximate to a peripheral nerve in the body,   wherein the housing is approximately the length of an active current zone of a peak spike phase of the peripheral nerve, and   wherein the neurostimulation device is configured to receive the electromagnetic signals and generate a stimulation charge on the electrode to stimulate the peripheral nerve, thereby causing paresthesia that reduces pain.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted inductively, wherein the housing is less than two millimeters long, wherein the housing includes a groove, wherein the electrode is within the groove, wherein the housing has an outer surface formed of a biocompatible material comprising polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), parylene, polyurethane of polycarbonate, or combinations thereof, wherein the electrode is disposed along a recessed floor of the groove, wherein the groove is configured to facilitate the growth of nerve fibers for electrically interfacing the electrodes, wherein the electrode is formed of carbon nano-tubes, wherein the groove is partially filled with neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the electrode, wherein wire leads extend from the housing, and wherein the wire leads are configured to electrically connect the housing to systems external to the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a stimulation device, electromagnetic signals from an external device; and   generating, by the stimulation device, a stimulation charge on an electrode to stimulate a peripheral nerve, thereby causing paresthesia that reduces pain,   wherein the neurostimulation device has a housing and the electrode,   wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted so that the electrode is proximate to the peripheral nerve, and   wherein the housing is approximately the length of an active current zone of a peak spike phase of the peripheral nerve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted inductively, wherein the housing is less than two millimeters long, wherein the housing includes a groove, wherein the electrode is within the groove, wherein the housing has an outer surface formed of a biocompatible material comprising polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), parylene, polyurethane of polycarbonate, or combinations thereof, wherein the electrode is disposed along a recessed floor of the groove, wherein the groove is configured to facilitate the growth of nerve fibers for electrically interfacing the electrodes, wherein the electrode is formed of carbon nano-tubes, wherein the groove is partially filled with neurotrophic factors for promoting growth of peripheral nerves along the electrode, wherein wire leads extend from the housing, and wherein the wire leads are configured to electrically connect the housing to systems external to the housing.