Implantable electrophysiology lead and method of making
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Myers, John M. Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implantable lead in the form of an electrical conductor wire having an insulating layer of impervious plastic surrounding the surface of the electrical conductor wire and further having an exterior surface covering of porous PTFE. The impervious plastic insulating layer is preferably a thermoplastic and most preferably a thermoplastic fluoropolymer such as ETFE, FEP or PFA. The exterior surface covering of porous PTFE offers improved flexibility and biocompatibility in comparison to conventional lead wires having silicone exterior surfaces, while the impervious plastic insulating layer prevents loss of insulating integrity resulting from wetting out of the porous PTFE exterior surface by body fluids. Methods of making the implantable lead are also described.
Claims22
An implantable lead comprising:
- a) at least one electrical conductor wire;
- b) a layer of impervious plastic insulation tubularly and coaxially surrounding the at least one electrical conductor wire;
- and
- c) an exterior coaxial covering comprised of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
A method of making an implantable lead having an impervious plastic insulating layer and an exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing, comprising:
- a) helically wrapping a laminated film about a mandrel, wherein the laminated film comprises a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer, with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene in contact with the mandrel;
- b) coaxially fitting the exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing over the mandrel having the helical wrapping of laminated film;
- c) heating the mandrel, laminated film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing adequately to cause the thermoplastic fluoropolymer to melt, and then cooling;
- d) withdrawing the mandrel to create a space and cutting off the ends of the helically wrapped film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing flush with each other;
- and
- e) inserting an electrical conductor wire into the space previously occupied by the mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.