Spinal cord stimulation leads

• US 20020156513A1
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William N. Borkan
• Original Assignee: William N. Borkan
• Inventors: Borkan, William N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,510,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

Various stimulation catheters are disclosed to lie along and stimulate tissue. The electrodes on the leads are various sizes to conserve the battery as well as allowing a more defined area of stimulation. It may also include multiple channels or passages for delivery of drugs, thermal or photonic energy.

Claims

1. A stimulation lead to lie along and stimulate tissue comprising:

a sheath having a distal and proximal end;

at least three in-line electrodes spaced along the exterior of the distal end of the sheath to lie in-line along tissue; and

wherein the electrodes each extend no greater than 270 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

2. A lead according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes each extend no greater than 180 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

3. A lead according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes each extend the range of 30 to no greater than 270 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

4. A lead according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes have a length along the sheath of at least three millimeters.

5. A lead according to claim 1, wherein the at least three electrodes each have a radius smaller than a radius of the sheath.

6. A lead according to claim 1, wherein the sheath includes a fixing element configured to fix the electrodes in place along the tissue.

7. A lead according to claim 6, wherein the fixing element includes at least one of inflatable balloon, nitinol, tines, and sheath shape.

8. A lead according to claim 6, wherein the fixing element is a curve of the distal end of the sheath.

9. A lead according to claim 1, including a passage extending from an inlet at the proximal end of the sheath to one or more outlets at the distal end of the sheath.

10. A lead according to claim 8, wherein the outlets are at one or more of the tip of the distal end, the area between the electrodes and on the electrodes.

11. A lead according to claim 1, including one or more optical channels extending from a port on the proximal end of the sheath to a port at the distal end of the sheath.

12. A lead according to claim 10, wherein the port at the distal end is at one or more of the tip of the distal end, the area between the electrodes and on the electrodes.

13. A lead according to claim 1, including an additional electrode spaced from the at least three electrodes along the exterior of the sheath;

and the additional electrode having a surface area on the sheath greater than the surface area on the sheath of each of the at least three electrodes.

14. A lead according to claim 13, wherein the additional electrode is at least twice the surface area of each of the at least three electrodes.

15. A lead according to claim 13, wherein the additional electrode has a greater length than the length of each of the at least three electrodes.

16. A lead according to claim 13, wherein the additional electrode has a greater circumferential dimension than the circumferential dimension of each of the at least three electrodes.

17. A lead according to claim 13, wherein the additional electrode is spaced from the at least three electrodes by at least ten millimeters.

19. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the sheath includes a wire extension extending from its distal end to its proximal end and the additional electrode is on the wire extension.

20. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the additional electrode is at least twice the surface area of each of the at least three electrodes.

21. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the additional electrode has a greater length than the length of each of the at least three electrodes.

22. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the additional electrode has a greater circumferential dimension than the circumferential dimension of each of the at least three electrodes.

23. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the additional electrode is spaced from the at least three electrodes by at least ten millimeters.

24. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the electrode length along the sheath of each of the at least three electrodes is less than four millimeters.

25. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the electrodes each extend 360 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

26. A lead according to claim 18, including at least six in-line electrodes.

27. A lead according to claim 18, including eight in-line electrodes.

28. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the electrodes each extend less than 270 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

29. A lead according to claim 28, wherein the electrodes each extend no more than 180 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

30. A lead according to claim 28, wherein the electrodes each extend in the range of 30 to 270 degrees about the exterior of the sheath.

31. A lead according to claim 18, wherein the sheath includes a fixing element configured to fix the electrodes in place along the tissue.

32. A lead according to claim 31, wherein the fixing element includes at least one of inflatable balloon, nitinol, tines, and sheath shape.

18. A stimulation lead to lie along and stimulate tissue comprising:

a sheath having a distal and proximal end;

at least three in-line electrodes spaced along the exterior of the distal end of the sheath to lie in-line along tissue;

an additional electrode spaced from the at least three electrodes along the exterior of the sheath; and

the additional electrode having a surface area on the sheath greater than the surface area on the sheath of each of the at least three electrodes.