# US 11,077,296 B2 · Implant conductor assembly with improved radio frequency properties > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,296 B2 - Document ID: US11077296B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/775,243 - Filed: 2016-11-16 - Published: 2018-11-15 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-16 - Assignees: Waikatolink Limited - Applicants: Waikatolink Limited - Inventors: Steven Owen McCabe; Jonathan Brereton Scott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077296B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence) - A61N 1/06: for high-frequency therapy - A61N 1/086: {Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads} - A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract In one aspect the invention provides an implant conductor lead assembly which includes an electrode lead, and at least one field target conductor. The field target conductor(s) is located adjacent to the electrode lead to mutually couple the field target conductor to the electrode lead. The electrode lead acts to concentrate electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the implant conductor assembly towards the field target conductor or conductors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implant conductor lead assembly comprising: an electrode lead comprising at least one length of conductive material; and at least one field target conductor located adjacent to and spaced apart from the electrode lead such that a longitudinal axis of the at least one field target conductor is offset from a longitudinal axis of the electrode lead, the at least one field target conductor being located to mutually couple the at least one field target conductor to the electrode lead, wherein the electrode lead acts to concentrate electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of the implant conductor lead assembly towards said at least one field target conductor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one field target conductor is positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the electrode lead. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the field target conductor is formed from multi-stranded wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length of the field target conductor is less than the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the length of the field target conductor is less than the length of the electrode lead by half the wavelength of an expected electromagnetic field of an MRI machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the field target conductor has a length in the range of 40% to 90% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the field target conductor has a length in the range of 50% to 70% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the field target conductor has a length approximately equal to 60% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 8 which includes the single field target conductor located adjacent to one side of the electrode lead and extending approximately 60% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 4 which includes a pair of field target conductors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the field target conductors are located on opposite sides of the electrode lead. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10, 11) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the field target conductors each extend at least 40% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the field target conductors each extend at least 60% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the field target conductors each extend approximately 90% of the length of the electrode lead. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one field target conductor is formed of a material having increased electrical resistance such that the energy of an MRI field is dissipated substantially evenly throughout the at least one field target conductor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 which exhibits an electrical resistance ranging from 10-100000 Ohms/meter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ends of a field target conductor are sealed inside an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the exterior surface of a field target conductor is exposed to the body tissue of the recipient of the assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein substantially all of the exterior surface of the field target conductor is exposed to the tissue of an implant recipient. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The implant conductor lead assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein at least the mid-point of the length of the conductor is exposed to the body tissue of the implant recipient. ### Claim 21 A method of concentrating electromagnetic fields in a vicinity of an implant conductor lead assembly, the implant conductor lead assembly including an electrode lead comprising at least one length of conductive material and at least one field target conductor located adjacent to the electrode lead, the method comprising: mutually coupling the field target conductor to the electrode lead by offsetting a longitudinal axis of the at least one field target conductor from a longitudinal axis of the electrode lead such that the field target conductor is spaced apart from the electrode lead, wherein the electrode lead acts to concentrate electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the implant conductor lead assembly towards said at least one field target conductor.