US 12,226,627 B2
Devices and methods for neuromodulation
Mario I. Romero-Ortega, Coppell, TX (US); Stuart F. Cogan, Dallas, TX (US); and Aswini Kanneganti, Richardson, TX (US)
Assigned to Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/185,285.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/584,195, filed on Nov. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/584,203, filed on Nov. 10, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0143102 A1, May 16, 2019
Int. Cl. A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/0556 (2013.01) [A61N 1/36007 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implantable neuromodulation device comprising:
a chamber configured to receive a nerve, the chamber having a cross-sectional chamber inner dimension;
at least one electrode disposed in the chamber; and
a channel having a cross-sectional channel dimension that is smaller than a cross-sectional chamber dimension, the channel having a proximal end and a distal end, proximal end being open to outside of the device and the distal end terminating at the chamber, the channel fluidly connecting an interior of the chamber with an exterior of the neuromodulation device such that the chamber is fluidly connected to the exterior of the neuromodulation device, the cross-sectional channel inner dimension being fixed, the channel having a central line that changes direction from the proximal end to the distal end,
the channel being defined by at least a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, and a fourth wall portion, the first and second wall portions being at or proximate to the proximal end, the third and fourth wall portions being at or proximate to the distal end, each of the third and fourth wall portions being oriented transversely to each of the first and second wall portions,
the central line having a first segment passing between the first and second wall portions and a second segment passing between the third and fourth wall portions, such that the first and second segments are oriented transversely to each other, and such that passing a nerve through the non-linear channel from the proximal end to the chamber requires changing direction, wherein the cross-sectional channel inner dimension is smaller than the maximum diameter of the nerve.