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US 7,877,869 B2Granted
Lead body-to-connector transition zone
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsBruce R. Mehdizadeh, Sandra F. Viktora, Catherine A. Lundberg, Dina L. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical electrical lead includes a lead body and a connector terminal. A conductor extends from the lead body to the connector terminal along a helical path through a transition zone.
Claims31
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen by inserting an end of the medical electrical lead conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen and advancing the end of the medical electrical lead conductor through the peripheral lumen;
- wherein the multi-lumen tube is formed of a polyurethane material and the step of forming the multi-lumen tube comprises:
- molding or extruding the tube such that the peripheral lumen extends from the first end to the second end approximately aligned with a central axis of the central lumen;
- twisting the first end of the tube with respect to the second end of the tube such that the peripheral lumen extends in the helical path;
- securing the first end and the second end in the twisted configuration;
- and
- heating the multi-lumen tube while the multi-lumen tube is in the twisted configuration.
7 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen by inserting an end of the medical electrical lead conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen and advancing the end of the medical electrical lead conductor through the peripheral lumen;
- wherein the conductor has been coupled to the connector assembly before inserting the conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen by inserting an end of the medical electrical lead conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen and advancing the end of the medical electrical lead conductor through the peripheral lumen;
- wherein the conductor has been coupled to the lead body before inserting the conductor into the peripheral lumen.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen by inserting an end of the medical electrical lead conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen and advancing the end of the medical electrical lead conductor through the peripheral lumen;
- and
- further comprising the step of forming the conductor from a first conductor, which is coupled to the lead body, and a second conductor, which is coupled to the connector assembly, by splicing a proximal end of the first conductor, which extends proximally from the lead body, to a distal end of the second conductor, which extends distally from the connector assembly.
3 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen by inserting an end of the medical electrical lead conductor into the first end of the peripheral lumen and advancing the end of the medical electrical lead conductor through the peripheral lumen;
- and
- further comprising the step of positioning a second medical electrical lead conductor within the central lumen of the multi-lumen tube.
3 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube, wherein the multi-lumen tube is formed of a polyurethane material and the forming comprises:
- molding or extruding the tube such that the peripheral lumen extends from the first end to the second end approximately aligned with a central axis of the central lumen;
- twisting the first end of the tube with respect to the second end of the tube such that the peripheral lumen extends in the helical path;
- securing the first end and the second end in the twisted configuration;
- and
- heating the multi-lumen tube while the multi-lumen tube is in the twisted configuration;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- and
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen.
6 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen;
- and
- forming the medical electrical lead conductor from a first conductor, which is coupled to the lead body, and a second conductor, which is coupled to the connector assembly, by splicing a proximal end of the first conductor, which extends proximally from the lead body, to a distal end of the second conductor, which extends distally from the connector assembly.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a transition zone between a medical electrical lead body and a lead connector assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a multi-lumen tube having a peripheral lumen extending from a first end to a second end of the tube in a helical path about a central lumen of the tube;
- positioning the multi-lumen tube adjacent the connector assembly;
- positioning a medical electrical lead conductor within the peripheral lumen;
- and
- positioning a second medical electrical lead conductor within the central lumen of the multi-lumen tube.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.