| abstract |
An improved tissue electrode for monitoring tissue electrical activity and for tissue electrical stimulation and adapted to conform closely to the tissue, thereby optimizing tissue electrical contact. The electrode consists of an elongated electrode body with a polygonal cross-section with a tissue-engaging surface having a pair of tissue-engaging members confronting each other at an obtuse angle and a non-tissue-engaging surface meeting each of the tissue-engaging members at an acute angle. In one embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is substantially flat, and the electrode thus is a half-rhombus in cross-section. In a second embodiment, the non-tissue-engaging surface is also a half-rhombus, so that the electrode is a rhombus in cross-section. An improved electrical connector for connecting lead wires from the electrode to external monitoring equipment is also disclosed. A device for inserting the electrode into body tissue is also disclosed, the device having a stylet pre-curved to conform to the tissue and a sheath surrounding the stylet for receiving the electrode. |