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Abstract

An implant stimulator device uses tantalum and tantalum pentoxide as a system for the conveyance of electrical stimulation pulses from stimulus-forming circuitry contained within an hermetic enclosure to the saline fluids of body tissue to be stimulated. Internal coupling capacitors are not used, yet the danger of having DC current flow to the saline fluids is eliminated. A preferred embodiment provides a multiplicity of electrode contacts made from sintered, anodized tantalum, connected via tantalum wire leads to tantalum feedthroughs into the hermetically sealed package containing the stimulus pulse-forming electronic circuitry. One or more counter electrode contacts (for monopolar or bipolar configurations, respectively) made of activated iridium, non-activated iridium, iridium in combination with a noble or non-noble metal, platinum, gold, or other metal which forms a low impedance contact with body fluids, is/are connected via platinum or other conductive metal leads to return feedthroughs. When powered-up, the stimulus generating circuit produces a steady polarizing potential of approximately half its maximum output voltage range, which potential is applied as a positive (anodizing) voltage to each tantalum electrode and associated lead and feedthrough, with respect to the counter electrode(s), which act as the reference point for the circuit.

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First Claim