Assembly including access cannula and rotatable deployment cannula with electrode array assembly

Abstract

An electrode array and deployment assembly includes an access cannula comprising an outer structural member formed from material insertable in living tissue and defining a lumen opening at a distal end. An electrode assembly has a frame and at least one electrode disposed on the frame. A deployment cannula has a lumen and a distal end opening. The deployment cannula is disposed in the lumen of the outer structural member and configured to be discharged from the lumen opening and rotated during discharge. The electrode assembly is disposed in the lumen of the deployment cannula for discharge from the distal end opening of the deployment cannula lumen. The electrode assembly is seated in the deployment cannula lumen in a select orientation and is configured to rotate with the deployment cannula so that the rotation of the deployment cannula results in a rotation of the electrode assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode array and deployment assembly, the assembly including:
 an access cannula comprising an outer structural member formed from material insertable in living tissue, the outer structural member shaped to define a lumen and a distal end, the lumen opening adjacent the structural member distal end;   an electrode array assembly including a frame and at least one electrode disposed on the frame;   a deployment cannula having a lumen and a distal end opening, the deployment cannula being disposed in the lumen of the outer structural member and configured to be discharged from the lumen opening and rotated during discharge; and   the electrode array assembly disposed in the lumen of the deployment cannula for discharge from the distal end opening of the deployment cannula lumen, the electrode array assembly being seated in the deployment cannula lumen in a select orientation and being configured to rotate with the deployment cannula so that the rotation of the deployment cannula results in a rotation of the electrode array assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode array assembly is formed from superelastic material and is configured to be rolled, folded or bent when disposed in the lumen of the deployment cannula. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the deployment cannula lumen has a diameter and the electrode array assembly has an unfolded width greater than the diameter of the deployment cannula lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1  wherein the deployment cannula is formed from superelastic material that is at least partially twisted adjacent the distal end opening of the deployment cannula such that, extending proximally from the distal end opening, a major axis of the lumen rotates around a longitudinal axis through the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the deployment cannula, including the electrode array disposed therein, is disposed in the access cannula lumen in an untwisted shape so that upon discharge of the deployment cannula from the access cannula distal end opening, the distal end of the deployment cannula, including the electrode array assembly disposed therein, is configured to rotate to the twisted shape. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the access cannula lumen is shaped to comprise a curve that is proximal to the distal end opening. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the deployment cannula with the electrode array assembly disposed therein are disposed in the access cannula lumen so that, as the deployment cannula and the electrode array assembly are discharged from the access cannula, the deployment cannula and the electrode array assembly curve along the curve of the access cannula lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end opening of the access cannula defines a non-circular profile that has a major axis. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the deployment cannula is shaped so that the lumen has a non-circular cross sectional shape with a major axis. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the deployment cannula, including the electrode array assembly disposed therein, is disposed in the access cannula lumen so that, prior to discharge from the outer structural member, the major axis of the deployment cannula lumen is substantially parallel to the major axis of the access cannula distal end opening. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 10 , wherein upon discharge of the deployment cannula and electrode array assembly from the access cannula, the deployment cannula is configured to rotate so that the major axis of the deployment cannula lumen rotates away from the substantially parallel relationship with the major axis of the access cannula distal end opening. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode array assembly includes a head with a front edge that curves laterally and proximally away from a distal end of the electrode array. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the access cannula comprises an edge at the lumen opening that is sharp and configured to cut through tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment cannula is configured to be retracted into the access cannula upon discharge of the electrode array assembly from the deployment cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises longitudinally extending bridges that are located side by side and spaced apart from each other when the electrode array assembly is in an unfolded state. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the electrode array assembly comprises a plurality of tabs that extend from the bridges and electrodes that are disposed on the tabs. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode array and deployment assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bridges at least partially overlap when the electrode array assembly is disposed in the deployment cannula.