Electrode assembly for nerve stimulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a an electrode assembly for nerve stimulation, in particular for the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, comprising at least one electrode and a bow-shaped holding portion which is designed to hold the electrode assembly at the ear of a patient.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly for nerve stimulation, in particular for the transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, comprising at least one electrode and a holding portion configured to hold the electrode assembly at an ear of a patient, the electrode being mounted at an inner end of the holding portion, wherein the holding portion comprises three sections, a first outer portion curved or bent in the shape of an earpiece, a second intermediate portion directly adjoining the first portion and bent towards the first portion, and a third inner portion directly adjoining the second portion and extending inwardly from both said first and second portions and back towards said first portion, additionally comprising a connecting portion adjoining an end of said third portion opposite said second portion, and on which said at least one electrode is mounted, wherein the connecting portion is inclined relative to the holding portion at an angle (α) between about 5° and about 30°.

2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion and the connecting portion are manufactured from materials of similar hardness.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 2, wherein the holding portion and the connecting portion are manufactured from materials with a Shore hardness in the range of about 30 ShoreD to about 65 ShoreD.

4. The electrode assembly according to claim 3, wherein the range is from about 40 ShoreD to about 60 ShoreD.

5. The electrode assembly according to claim 4, wherein the range is from about 45 ShoreD to about 55 ShoreD.

6. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion and the connecting portion are at least partly manufactured from materials of different hardness.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the holding portion is largely manufactured from a relatively hard material and the connecting portion as well as a section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion are manufactured from materials of different hardness, with a part of the connecting portion and section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion manufactured from a relatively hard material being inserted, embedded or sunk in a part of the connecting portion and section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion manufactured from a relatively soft material.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the holding portion is largely manufactured from a relatively soft material and the connecting portion as well as a section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion are manufactured from materials of different hardness, with a part of the connecting portion and section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion manufactured from a relatively hard material being inserted, embedded or sunk in a part of the connecting portion and section of the holding portion adjoining the connecting portion manufactured from a relatively soft material.

9. The electrode assembly according to claim 6, wherein the holding portion and the connecting portion are at least partly manufactured from at least one of relatively hard materials with a Shore hardness in the range of about 30 ShoreD to about 65 ShoreD, and relatively soft materials with a Shore hardness in the range of about 70 ShoreA to about 98 ShoreA.

10. The electrode assembly according to claim 9, wherein the Shore hardness range for the hard materials is of about 40 ShoreD to about 60 ShoreD, and the Shore hardness in the range for the soft materials is about 75 ShoreA to about 90 ShoreA.

11. The electrode assembly according to claim 10, wherein the Shore hardness range for the hard materials is about 45 ShoreD to about 55 ShoreD, and the Shore hardness in the range for the soft materials is about 80 ShoreA to about 88 ShoreA.

12. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein a cable associated with the at least one electrode extends along the holding portion or within the holding portion and leaves the holding portion at an end of the holding portion opposite to the at least one electrode.

13. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein an additional electrode is provided, with both said electrodes manufactured from coated titanium (Ti.sub.2).

14. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode and the holding portion are arranged such that the access to the auditory canal of the patient is not blocked or impeded by the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is arranged on the ear of the patient.

15. A device for carrying out a transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, comprising at least one electrode assembly according to claim 1.

16. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the angle (α) is between about 10° and about 20°.

17. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, comprising an additional electrode, with both said electrodes extending in a substantially Y-shaped or T-shaped manner away from the connecting portion.

18. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein said third portion is arranged at substantially right angles to the second portion and the connecting portion.

Description

IN THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an electrode assembly according to the invention, in which the holding portion and the connecting portion are manufactured from materials of similar hardness.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of an electrode assembly according to the invention, in which a large part of the holding portion is manufactured from a relatively hard material, and the connecting portion as well as a section of the holding portion in the vicinity of the connecting portion are manufactured from a mixture of relatively hard and soft materials.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of an electrode assembly according to the invention, in which a large part of the holding portion is manufactured from a relatively soft material, and the connecting portion as well as a section of the holding portion in the vicinity of the connecting portion are manufactured from a mixture of relatively hard and soft materials.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an electrode assembly according to the invention, which is arranged on an ear. As shown in FIG. 4, the simultaneous use of an earphone (in-ear headphone) is easily possible.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a view of an electrode assembly according to the invention, in which the inclination between the holding portion and the connecting portion is clearly visible.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) As shown in FIG. 1, an electrode assembly 1 according to the invention in one embodiment includes two electrodes 2 and a bow-shaped holding portion 3. The two electrodes are connected to the bow-shaped holding portion 3 via a connecting portion 4.

(7) The bow-shaped holding portion 3 includes a first portion 3a which is of bent design like an earpiece. In addition, the bow-shaped holding portion 3 includes a second portion 3b which directly adjoins the portion 3a and is bent towards the portion 3a.

(8) A third portion 3c of the bow-shaped holding portion 3s extends between the second portion 3b and the connecting portion 4 and is arranged substantially at right angles to the second portion 3b and the connecting portion 4.

(9) A cable associated with the electrode can be arranged in/on the holding portion 3 and leaves the holding portion preferably at its end 5 opposite to the electrodes 2.

(10) The two electrodes 2 extend in a substantially Y-shaped or T-shaped manner away from the connecting portion 4.

(11) As shown in FIG. 2, in a second embodiment of an electrode assembly 1 according to the invention a large part of the holding portion 3 is manufactured from a relatively hard material, and the connecting portion 4 as well as a section or the portion 3c of the holding portion 3 in the vicinity of the connecting portion 4 are manufactured from a mixture of relatively hard and soft materials.

(12) In FIG. 2, the part/area of the portion 3c of the holding portion 3 and the connecting portion 4 are shown hatched.

(13) As shown in FIG. 3, in a third embodiment of an electrode assembly according to the invention a large part of the holding portion 3 is manufactured from a relatively soft material, and the connecting portion 4 as well as a section or the portion 3c of the holding portion 3 are manufactured from a mixture of relatively hard and soft materials.

(14) In FIG. 3, the part/area of the portion 3c of the holding portion 3 and of the connecting portion 4 manufactured from a relatively soft material is shown hatched.

(15) As in this embodiment a large part of the holding portion is made of a relatively soft material, it may be advantageous to provide for the necessary rigidity of the holding portion 3 by means of a framework/inlay made of a relatively hard material inserted in the holding portion 3.

(16) FIG. 4 shows an electrode assembly according to the invention, which is arranged on an ear. As shown in FIG. 4, the simultaneous use of an earphone (in-ear headphone) is easily possible.

(17) As the holding portion 3 extends around the ear of the patient at the top/at the front (at the upper left in FIG. 4) and urges the electrodes 2 in the auricle of the patient against the tissue, the access to the auditory canal of the patient in no way is impeded or blocked by the electrode assembly.

(18) As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 4 preferably is inclined at an angle α relative to the holding portion, in particular to the portion 3c. This provides for a particularly good contact pressure.

(19) Furthermore, FIG. 5 also clearly shows the guiding groove 5 for receiving a cable.