Medical electrical lead joints and methods of manufacture
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsKevin R. Seifert, Kathleen M. Grenz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A joint between an insulative sidewall of a medical electrical lead subassembly and an underlying fluoropolymer layer includes an interfacial layer. A first section of the interfacial layer is bonded to the fluoropolymer layer and is formed by a thermoplastic fluoropolymer; a second section of the interfacial layer extends adjacent the first section and is bonded to the insulative sidewall. The insulative sidewall, of the subassembly, and the second section, of the interfacial layer, are each formed from a material that is not a fluoropolymer. A recess is formed in the first section of the interfacial layer and the second section of the interfacial layer extends within the recess.
Claims14
A medical electrical lead, comprising:
- an elongate conductor;
- an inner insulative layer surrounding the conductor, the inner insulative layer formed from a first material;
- a subassembly including an insulative sidewall formed from a second material and a conductive member mounted about the insulative sidewall, and the conductive member including an exposed electrical contact surface;
- and
- a joint between the inner insulative layer and the insulative sidewall of the subassembly, the joint formed by an interfacial layer extending between an outer surface of the inner insulative layer and an inner surface of the insulative sidewall, the interfacial layer comprising:
- a first section formed from a third material bonded the outer surface of the inner insulative layer;
- and
- a second section formed from a fourth material and being bonded to the inner surface of the insulative sidewall of the subassembly;
- and
- wherein one of the first and second materials comprises a fluoropolymer and the other does not;
- wherein one of the third and fourth materials comprises a fluoropolymer;
- and wherein the one of the third and fourth materials comprising a fluoropolymer is bonded to the one of the first and second materials which comprises a fluoropolymer;
- and
- wherein the first section includes an outer surface facing the inner surface of the insulative sidewall, and at least one recess formed in the outer surface of the first section and the second section extends adjacent the first section and within the at least one recess.
A method for manufacturing a joint in a medical electrical lead, the joint being between an inner surface of an insulative sidewall of the lead and an outer surface of a fluoropolymer layer, the subassembly comprising a conductive member mounted about the insulative sidewall, and the conductive member including an exposed electrical contact surface;
- the method comprising:
- thermally bonding a thermoplastic fluoropolymer layer to the outer surface of the fluoropolymer layer;
- assembling another material layer over the outer surface of the fluoropolymer layer and adjacent to the thermoplastic fluoropolymer layer;
- and
- adhesively bonding the other material layer to the inner surface of the insulative sidewall of the subassembly;
- wherein the other material layer and the insulative sidewall of the subassembly are formed from a material that does not comprise a fluoropolymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.