Electrical stimulation lead with proximal common electrode

• US 20070100408A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/261,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes

Abstract

An implantable medical lead for stimulation of target sites, including nerves, organs, or tissue comprises a lead body having a distal electrode lead segment and a proximal connector lead segment. The electrode lead segment has at its distal end an electrode array including at least one stimulation electrode. The connector lead segment includes at least one common electrode. The proximal end of the connector lead segment may be coupled to a pulse generator, other stimulation device, or additional intermediate wiring.

Claims

1. An electrical stimulation lead comprising:

an electrode segment having a distal electrode array adapted to deliver neurostimulation pulses to a target site; and

a connector segment having a proximal common electrode adapted to serve as a return electrode for electrodes of the electrode array.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the connector segment is connected to a proximal end of the electrode segment and receives the neurostimulation pulses from a neurostimulator.

3. The lead of claim 2, wherein the neurostimulator is one of an external neurostimulator or an implantable neurostimulator.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes at least one stimulation electrode.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes four ring electrodes.

6. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes at least two ring electrodes, and wherein the common electrode includes at least one ring electrode having a larger surface area than a largest one of the ring electrodes in the electrode array.

7. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array and the common electrode are separated by a distance of at least 3 centimeters.

8. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array and the common electrode are separated by a distance of at least 5 centimeters.

9. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electric field produced between the electrode array and the common electrode simulates a monopolar stimulation field applied between an electrode array and an implanted neurostimulator housing.

10. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes at least one of a wire coil electrode, a mesh electrode, a ring electrode, an electrode formed from portions of wire, barbs, hooks, spherically-shaped members, and helically-shaped members.

11. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes at least one stimulation electrode, and wherein the common electrode has a size at least as large as the at least one stimulation electrode.

12. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes at least two stimulation electrodes, and wherein the common electrode includes at least one return electrode having a larger surface area than a largest one of the stimulation electrodes in the electrode array.

13. The lead of claim 12, wherein the common electrode has a surface area at least two times as great as a surface area of the largest one of the stimulation electrodes in the electrode array.

14. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array and the common electrode provide neurostimulation of at least one sacral nerve.

15. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode array is adapted for implantation to deliver neurostimulation pulses to at least one sacral nerve.

16. The lead of claim 1, wherein the common electrode is relatively closer to the connector element than to the electrode array.

17. The lead of claim 16, wherein a distance between the connector element and the common electrode is at least 1 centimeter, and wherein a distance between the common electrode and the electrode array is at least 5 centimeters.

18. An electrical stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body comprised of an electrode segment and a connector segment, the electrode segment having a distal electrode array adapted to deliver neurostimulation pulses to a target site;

the connector segment including a connector element adapted to receive the neurostimulation pulses from a neurostimulator;

the connector segment further including a proximal common electrode adapted to serve as a return electrode for electrodes of the electrode array;

wherein the common electrode is positioned along the lead body relatively closer to the connector segment than to the electrode array.

19. The lead of claim 18, wherein the lead is configured for implantation within the body of a patient to stimulate a target site and wherein the common electrode serves as a return electrode during a test stimulation procedure.

20. The lead of claim 19, wherein the neurostimulation pulses are received from an external neurostimulator during the test stimulation procedure.