# US 8,788,063 B2 · Electrode array having a rail system and methods of manufacturing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,063 B2 - Document ID: US8788063B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/946,659 - Filed: 2010-11-15 - Published: 2011-06-02 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-30 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation - Applicants: Roger Chen - Inventors: Roger Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788063B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation} - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end. The lead includes a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead. The longitudinal rail includes at least two prongs, each prong being configured and arranged to receive at least one segmented electrode. The lead further includes a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes is coupled to one of the at least two prongs of the rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for brain stimulation, comprising: a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end, the lead comprising: a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead and comprising a central portion and at least two prongs extending radially away from the central portion, each prong being configured and arranged to receive at least one segmented electrode: and a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes comprising a bottom surface, a distal end, and a proximal end opposite the distal end, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes defining a passage within the segmented electrode and open at the bottom surface of the segmented electrode and extending longitudinally through the segmented electrode from the distal end to the proximal end of the segmented electrode, the passage having a shape complementary to a portion of the prongs for receiving at least the portion of a one of the at least two prongs of the rail within the passage so that the segmented electrode is disposed directly on top of the one of the at least two prongs, the portion of the one of the at least two prongs received within the passage comprising securing tabs configured and arranged to secure the segmented electrode to the prong, wherein a portion of the segmented electrode extends below each of the securing tabs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two prongs are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises three prongs and the portion of the prong received within the passage of each segmented electrode is bounded on at least three sides by the segmented electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises four prongs and the portion of the prong received within the passage of each segmented electrode is bounded on at least three sides by the segmented electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises five prongs and the portion of the prong received within the passage of each segmented electrode is bounded on at least three sides by the segmented electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the segmented electrodes are disposed directly on top of a same one of the at least two prongs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, further comprising a spacer comprising a distal end and a proximal end opposite the first end, the spacer defining a passage extending longitudinally through the spacer from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the spacer is disposed directly on top of the same one of the at least two prongs and between the at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed on a same one of the at least two prongs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a lead body, at least a portion of the lead body at least partially disposed in voids between the plurality of segmented electrodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein, at least two prongs are configured and arranged such that the plurality of segmented electrodes are uniformly radially arranged around the circumference of the rail. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two prongs comprises exactly two securing tabs configured and arranged to be received within the passages of the plurality of segmented electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the passage of each of the plurality of segmented electrodes has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the securing tabs of each of the at least two prongs. ### Claim 12 A device for brain stimulation, comprising: a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end, the lead comprising: a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead and comprising a central portion and at least two prongs extending radially away from the central portion for receiving at least one segmented electrode; and a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes comprising a bottom surface, a distal end, and a proximal end opposite the distal end, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes defining a passage within the segmented electrode and open at the bottom surface of the segmented electrode and extending longitudinally through the segmented electrode from the distal end to the proximal end of the segmented electrode, the passage having a shape complementary to a portion of the prongs for receiving at least the portion of a one of the prongs of the rail within the passage so that the segmented electrode is disposed directly on top of the one of the prongs, the portion of the one of the at least two prongs received within the passage comprising securing tabs configured and arranged to secure the segmented electrode to the prong, wherein a portion of the segmented electrode extends below each of the securing tabs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of segmented electrodes are disposed at predetermined longitudinal levels along the length of the rail. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein at least two of the segmented electrodes are disposed directly on top of a same one of the at least two prongs and further comprising a spacer disposed between the at least two of the segmented electrodes and disposed directly on top of the same one of the at least two prongs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, further comprising a lead body, at least a portion of the lead body being disposed in voids between the plurality of segmented electrodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An implantable stimulation device, comprising: the device of claim 1; and a control module coupleable to the lead. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The implantable stimulation device of claim 16, wherein the implantable stimulation device is a deep brain stimulator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method of manufacturing the device for brain stimulation of claim 1, the method comprising: forming the longitudinal rail having the at least two prongs, each prong being configured and arranged to receive a plurality of the segmented electrodes; coupling a plurality of the segmented electrodes to the rail; introducing at least one set of spacers at a predetermined longitudinal level along the length of the rail, each set of spacers being configured and arranged to divide the plurality of segmented electrodes into different longitudinal levels; and forming a substantially cylindrical lead body, the substantially cylindrical lead body being configured to at least partially surround the longitudinal rail, the plurality of segmented electrodes and the at least one set of spacers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising grinding the plurality of segmented electrodes and the at least one set of spacers so that the lead is isodiametric. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein forming a substantially cylindrical lead body comprises back-filling a lead body.