Electrode and percutaneous lead and method of use
AssigneeWavegate Corporation
InventorErich W. Wolf, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical lead is provided which includes a generally flexible polymeric panel incorporating a set of electrode arrays embedded in one side. The electrode arrays are connected to integrally formed leads which house conductors that connect the electrodes to a set of contacts. The contacts engage an IPG header. The leads incorporate an optical fiber which extends from the IPG header to a set of window portals in the flexible panel. Each of the fibers includes a side firing section adjacent the optical windows for transmission or reception of light. Optimally placed reflectors and heat shields are also provided.
Claims16
A percutaneous lead for a pulse generator, the pulse generator having an external casing with a hermetically sealed optical window, between an interior of the external casing and an exterior of the external casing, and a header, the header having an alignment cylinder for the percutaneous lead, the alignment cylinder terminating in a concave oriented frustoconical centering surface adjacent the hermetically sealed optical window, the percutaneous lead further comprising:
- a flexible lead body, incorporating a stylet channel and a set of axially extending lumens, and having an internal surface and an external surface, and having a first distal end and a first proximal end, and wherein the set of axially extending lumens is radially distributed around the stylet channel;
- an optical transmission section, having a cap and an optical fiber diffuser cavity, at the first distal end;
- wherein the cap is internally reflective;
- a set of electrodes, positioned adjacent the optical transmission section, fixed to the external surface;
- an anchor ring, connected to a ground line for providing electrical shielding, positioned at the first proximal end and fixed to the external surface;
- the ground line, positioned in a lumen of the set of axially extending lumens, parallel and adjacent to a set of conductors;
- the ground line connected to the external casing, and not connected to any electrode of the set of electrodes and not connected to any conductor of the set of conductors;
- a set of contacts, adjacent to the anchor ring;
- the set of conductors positioned in the set of axially extending lumens;
- wherein at least one contact, of the set of contacts, is electrically connected to at least one electrode of the set of electrodes by a conductor of the set of conductors;
- an optical fiber, having a second distal end and a second proximal end, the second distal end terminated in a radial light dispersion section, positioned in the stylet channel;
- wherein the radial light dispersion section is positioned in the optical fiber diffuser cavity;
- and,
- a cylindrical ferrule, having a convex oriented frustoconical alignment tip, positioned around the optical fiber, coterminous with the second proximal end, preventing the optical fiber from exerting pressure on the hermetically sealed optical window, by the convex oriented frustoconical alignment tip impinging on the concave oriented frustoconical centering surface.
A pulse generator system comprising:
- a housing;
- a header, adjacent the housing, having a lead channel terminating in a concave oriented frustoconical centering surface;
- an optical window, positioned in the housing, adjacent the concave oriented frustoconical centering surface;
- the housing supporting a set of optical components adjacent the optical window;
- the lead channel further having an optical axis;
- a flexible lead body, incorporating a stylet channel and a set of axially extending lumens, and having an internal surface and an external surface, and having a first distal end and a first proximal end, and wherein the set of axially extending lumens is radially distributed around the stylet channel;
- an optical transmission section, having a cap and an optical fiber diffuser cavity, at the first distal end;
- wherein the cap is internally reflective;
- a set of electrodes, positioned adjacent the optical transmission section, fixed to the external surface;
- an anchor ring, positioned at the first proximal end, fixed to the external surface;
- a set of contacts, adjacent to the anchor ring;
- a set of conductors positioned in the set of axially extending lumens;
- wherein at least one contact, of the set of contacts, is electrically connected to at least one electrode of the set of electrodes by a conductor of the set of conductors;
- an optical fiber, having a second distal end and a second proximal end, the second distal end terminated in a radial light dispersion section, positioned in the stylet channel;
- wherein the radial light dispersion section is positioned in the optical fiber diffuser cavity;
- and,
- a cylindrical ferrule, having a convex oriented frustoconical alignment tip, fixed on the optical fiber, polished flush with the second proximal end;
- wherein the convex oriented frustoconical alignment tip impinges on the concave oriented frustoconical centering surface thereby preventing the optical fiber from exerting longitudinal pressure on the optical window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.