Electrical stimulation lead with conformable array of electrodes

• US 20070027514A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

The disclosure describes an implantable electrical lead with a conformable array of electrodes. The array of electrodes may be distributed across a convex or concaave surface to position the electrodes in various positions and orientations relative to a target stimulation site. The lead may be useful in a variety of applications such as spinal cord stimulation to alleviate chronic pain, gastrointestinal stimulation to alleviate gastroparesis or obesity, pelvic floor stimulation to alleviate incontinence or sexual dysfunction, or deep brain stimulation to alleviate neurological disorders.

Claims

1. An implantable electrical stimulation lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of electrical conductors within the lead body; and

a plurality of stimulation electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes being coupled to at least one of the conductors,

wherein the distal end of the lead body has a substantially curved cross-section and defines at least one of a substantially concave surface and a substantially convex surface, and the electrodes are positioned at various positions on at least one of the concave surface and the convex surface.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are positioned at various positions on both the concave surface and the convex surface.

3. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end is flexible and at least partially conformable to a target stimulation site.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end defines an inflation chamber that is at least partially inflatable to expand the distal end.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrodes include at least sixteen stimulation electrodes.

6. The lead of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrodes comprise conductive pads.

7. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.

8. The lead of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensing electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body.

9. An implantable electrical stimulator comprising:

an implantable pulse generator that generates electrical stimulation pulses; and

an implantable lead coupled to the implantable pulse generator, the lead including lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of electrical conductors within the lead body, and a plurality of stimulation electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes being coupled to at least one of the conductors,

wherein the distal end of the lead body has a substantially curved cross-section and defines at least one of a substantially concave surface and a substantially convex surface, and the electrodes are positioned at various positions on at least one of the concave surface and the convex surface.

10. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the electrodes are positioned at various positions on both the concave surface and the convex surface.

11. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the distal end is flexible and at least partially conformable to a target stimulation site.

12. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the distal end defines an inflation chamber that is inflatable to expand the distal end.

13. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the stimulation electrodes include at least sixteen stimulation electrodes.

14. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the stimulation electrodes comprise conductive pads.

15. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the distal end is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.

16. The stimulator of claim 9, further comprising one or more sensing electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body.

17. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein parameters of the electrical stimulation pulses are selected to alleviate symptoms of one or more of chronic pain, a gastrointestinal disorder, a urinary tract disorder, or sexual dysfunction.

18. A method comprising applying electrical stimulation pulses to a patient via an implanted lead, wherein the lead comprises a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of electrical conductors within the lead body, and a plurality of stimulation electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes being coupled to at least one of the conductors, and wherein the distal end of the lead body has a substantially curved cross-section and defines at least one of a substantially concave surface and a substantially convex surface, and the electrodes are positioned at various positions on at least one of the concave surface and the convex surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrodes are positioned at various positions on both the concave surface and the convex surface.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning the distal end of the lead body proximate a target nerve site within the patient.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the target nerve site and parameters of the electrical stimulation pulses are selected to alleviate symptoms of one or more of chronic pain, a gastrointestinal disorder, a urinary tract disorder, or sexual dysfunction.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal end is flexible and at least partially conformable to a target stimulation site.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the stimulation electrodes include at least sixteen stimulation electrodes.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal end is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the lead includes one or more sensing electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, the method further comprising sensing at least one electrical signal via the sensing electrodes.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal end defines an inflation chamber that is at least partially inflatable, the method further comprising inflating the inflation chamber upon deployment of the distal end of the lead within the patient to expand the distal end.

27. An implantable electrical stimulation lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of electrical conductors within the lead body; and

a plurality of stimulation electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes being coupled to at least one of the conductors,

wherein the distal end of the lead body is substantially pliant and conformable to a target stimulation site.

28. The lead of claim 27, wherein the distal end defines an inflation chamber that is at least partially inflatable to expand the distal end.

29. The lead of claim 27, wherein the stimulation electrodes include at least sixteen stimulation electrodes.

30. The lead of claim 27, wherein the distal end is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.

31. The lead of claim 27, further comprising one or more sensing electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body.

32. The lead of claim 27, wherein the distal end has a pillow-like shape.

33. An implantable electrical stimulation lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of electrical conductors within the lead body; and

a plurality of stimulation electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes being coupled to at least one of the conductors,

wherein the distal end of the lead body defines a first distal member and a second distal member extending from the lead body, the first and second distal members defining portions a channel-like region, wherein the electrodes are positioned at various positions on each of the first and second distal members.

34. The lead of claim 33, wherein the distal end is flexible and at least partially conformable to a target stimulation site.

35. The lead of claim 33, wherein the stimulation electrodes include at least sixteen stimulation electrodes.

36. The lead of claim 33, wherein the stimulation electrodes comprise conductive pads.

37. The lead of claim 33, wherein the distal end is formed at least partially from an elastomeric material.

38. The lead of claim 33, further comprising one or more sensing electrodes positioned at the distal end of the lead body.