# US 8,739,403 B2 · Method of manufacturing a medical lead > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,403 B2 - Document ID: US8739403B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/948,592 - Filed: 2010-11-17 - Published: 2011-03-10 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-31 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Michael Hegland; Richard T. Stone - Inventors: Michael Hegland; Richard T. Stone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739403B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes} - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - B29C 45/14639: {for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components} - A61B 2562/125: characterised by the manufacture of electrodes - B29L 2031/753: {Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008)} - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49151: by deforming or shaping - Y10T 29/49169: Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor - Y10T 29/49176: with molding of electrically insulating material - Y10T 29/49181: by deforming - Y10T 29/49204: Contact or terminal manufacturing - Y10T 29/4922: with molding of insulation - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of manufacturing a segmented electrode assembly. An electrically conducting tube is coupled to an electrically insulating material. The tube is generally cylindrical and hollow and defines one or more gaps at a first axial position. The tube also includes one or more bridges located at a second axial position. The method includes removing at least a portion of the bridge resulting in a segmented electrode assembly having at least one segment. A number embodiments of making a tube are also provided. In another embodiment a method of manufacturing a medical lead using a segmented electrode assembly is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a medical lead comprising: making first and second segmented electrode assemblies wherein the first and second segmented electrode assemblies are made by: coupling an electrically conductive tube to an electrically insulating material, wherein the tube is generally cylindrical and has an imaginary longitudinal axis, wherein the tube defines one or more gaps at a first axial position, and wherein the tube comprises at least a first bridge located at a second axial position; and removing at least a portion of the first bridge resulting in a first and second segmented electrode assemblies each having at least one segment; placing the first and second segmented electrode assemblies on a conductor assembly comprising at least first and second electrical conductors, wherein the conductor assembly is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the first segmented electrode assembly; electrically coupling the first conductor to a first segment of the first segmented electrode assembly; electrically coupling a second conductor of the conductor assembly to a second segment of the second segmented electrode assembly placing the coupled conductor assembly and first and second segmented electrode assemblies into a mold; and injecting an electrically insulating material into the mold to create a medical lead having a substantially cylindrical shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: wherein removing at least a portion of the first bridge results in first and second segmented electrode assemblies each having at least four segments; electrically coupling a corresponding conductor of the conductor assembly to each corresponding segment of the first segmented electrode assembly; electrically coupling a corresponding conductor of the conductor assembly to each corresponding segment of the second segmented electrode assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising: wherein making first and second electrode assemblies further includes making third and fourth electrode assemblies; placing the third and fourth segmented electrode assemblies on the conductor assembly, and wherein the conductor assembly is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the third and fourth segmented electrode assemblies; electrically coupling a third conductor of the conductor assembly to a third segment of the third segmented electrode assembly; electrically coupling a fourth conductor of a fourth conductor assembly to a fourth segment of the fourth segmented electrode assembly; and wherein placing the coupled conductor assembly and first, second, third, and fourth segmented electrode assemblies into a mold comprises placing the coupled conductor assembly and first, second, third and fourth segmented electrode assemblies into a mold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: wherein removing at least a portion of the first bridge results in third and fourth segmented electrode assemblies each having at least four segments electrically coupling a corresponding conductor of the conductor assembly to each corresponding segment of the third segmented electrode assembly; electrically coupling a corresponding conductor of the conductor assembly to each corresponding segment of the fourth segmented electrode assembly.