Leads with spiral of helical segmented electrode arrays and methods of making and using the leads
AssigneeBoston Scientific Neruomodulation Corporation
InventorsAnne Margaret Pianca, Matthew Lee McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stimulation lead includes a lead body having a longitudinal surface, a distal end, a proximal end, and a shaft extending along at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body. The stimulation lead also includes multiple segmented electrode members disposed on the shaft along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. Each segmented electrode member includes a ring structure which forms at least a partial ring and is disposed on the shaft, and a segmented electrode coupled to the ring and having an exposed surface configured and arranged for stimulating tissue when the stimulation lead is implanted.
Claims20
A method of making a stimulation lead, the method comprising:
- providing a pre-electrode assembly comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes and a plurality of raised connectors, wherein each of the segmented electrodes is coupled to at least one other of the segmented electrodes by at least one of the raised connectors and wherein at least one of the raised connectors attached to each of the segmented electrodes is attached to that segmented electrode at an angle in a range of 5 to 85 degrees with respect to an edge of that segmented electrode;
- forming the pre-electrode assembly into a tube with the segmented electrodes forming at least one helix or spiral, the tube defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the raised connectors is disposed at a radius with respect to the longitudinal axis that is greater than a radius of any of the segmented electrodes with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- forming at least a portion of a lead body around the segmented electrodes of the pre-electrode assembly;
- and
- grinding the tube comprising the pre-electrode assembly and portion of the lead body to remove the plurality of raised connectors leaving the plurality of segmented electrodes and the portion of the lead body.
An assembly for forming a stimulation lead, comprising:
- a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end;
- and
- a pre-electrode assembly formed in a tube around a portion of the distal end of the lead body and comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes and a plurality of raised connectors, wherein the segmented electrodes form at least one helix or spiral, wherein each of the segmented electrodes is coupled to at least one other of the segmented electrodes by at least one of the raised connectors and the segmented electrodes and the raised conductors are formed of a same conductive material, the tube defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the raised connectors is disposed at a radius with respect to the longitudinal axis that is greater than a radius of any of the segmented electrodes with respect to the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.