Novel medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation

• US 20070255373A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tower, Jessica, Boatwright, Mary, Metzler, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation includes first column of electrode surfaces and a second columns of electrode surfaces extending alongside and spaced apart from the first column.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation, comprising:

a first column of approximately planar electrode surfaces; and

a second column of approximately planar electrode surfaces extending alongside, and spaced apart from the first column;

each electrode surface of the first column angled toward each electrode surface of the second column such that a plane extending along the first column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the first column intersects a plane extending along the second column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the second column.

2. The lead of claim 1, further comprising a distal portion to which the first and second columns of electrode surfaces are coupled and wherein the distal portion includes a surface extending along and between the first and second columns of electrode surfaces.

3. The lead of claim 2, wherein the distal portion surface extends from an inner edge of each electrode surface of the first column to an inner edge of each electrode surface of the second column.

4. The lead of claim 3, wherein the distal portion surface is curved.

5. The lead of claim 2, wherein the distal portion surface extends from an outer edge of each electrode surface of the first column to an outer edge of each electrode surface of the second column.

6. The lead of claim 5, wherein the distal portion surface includes a flat portion disposed opposite the first and second columns of electrode surfaces.

7. The lead of claim 1, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding electrode surface of the second column.

8. The lead of claim 2, further comprising:

a first lead body extending within the distal portion, the first lead body including a first plurality of conductors isolated from one another, and each of the first plurality of conductors coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the first column of electrode surfaces; and

a second lead body extending within the distal portion, the second lead body including a second plurality of conductors isolated from one another, and each of the second plurality of conductors coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the second column of electrode surfaces.

9. The lead of claim 8, further comprising a mesh panel extending between the first and second lead bodies within the distal portion.

10. The lead of claim 2, further comprising:

a first connector extending proximally from the distal portion and including a first plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the first column of electrode surfaces; and

a second connector extending proximally from the distal portion and including a second plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the second column of electrode surfaces.

11. A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation, comprising:

a first elongate lead body including a first plurality of conductors isolated from one another;

a second elongate lead body including a second plurality of conductors isolated from one another;

a distal portion coupling the first lead body to the second lead body, the first and second lead bodies extending proximally from the distal portion;

a first column of electrode surfaces coupled to the distal portion, each of the electrode surfaces of the first column coupled to a corresponding conductor of the first plurality of conductors and extending laterally away from the first lead body; and

a second column of electrode surfaces coupled to the distal portion and extending alongside, and spaced apart from the first column, each of the electrode surfaces of the second column coupled to a corresponding conductor of the second plurality of conductors and extending laterally away from the second lead body.

12. The lead of claim 11, wherein the distal portion includes a surface extending from an inner edge of each electrode surface of the first column to an inner edge of each electrode surface of the second column.

13. The lead of claim 12, wherein the distal portion surface is curved.

14. The lead of claim 11, wherein the distal portion includes a surface extending from an outer edge of each electrode surface of the first column to an outer edge of each electrode surface of the second column.

15. The lead of claim 14, wherein the distal portion surface includes a flat portion disposed opposite the first and second columns of electrode surfaces.

16. The lead of claim 11, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding electrode surface of the second column.

17. The lead of claim 11, further comprising a mesh panel extending between the first and second lead bodies within the distal portion.

18. The lead of claim 11, wherein each of the electrode surfaces of the first and second columns are approximately planar.

19. The lead of claim 18, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is angled toward each electrode surface of the second column such that a plane extending along the first column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the first column intersects a plane extending along the second column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the second column.

20. A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation, comprising:

a first elongate lead body including a distal portion, the distal portion of the first lead body including a first column of electrode surfaces coupled thereto;

a second elongate lead body including a distal portion, the distal portion of the second lead body including a second column of electrode surfaces coupled thereto; and

a paddle-like member coupling the first lead body distal portion to the second lead body distal portion, the paddle-like member being formed by injection molding over the distal portions and including a first side, along which the electrode surfaces of the first and second columns are exposed, and a second side enclosing the distal portions.

21. The lead of claim 20, wherein the electrode surfaces of the first and second columns are approximately planar.

22. The lead of claim 21, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is angled toward each electrode surface of the second column such that a plane extending along the first column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the first column intersects a plane extending along the second column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the second column.

23. The lead of claim 20, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding electrode surface of the second column.

24. The lead of claim 20, wherein the first side of the distal portion includes a concave surface extending between the electrode surfaces of the first and second columns.

25. The lead of claim 20, further comprising a mesh panel extending between the distal portions of the first and second lead bodies.

26. The lead of claim 20, further comprising:

a first connector extending proximally from the first lead body and including a first plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the first column of electrode surfaces; and

a second connector extending proximally from the second lead body and including a second plurality of contact surfaces, each contact surface coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the second column of electrode surfaces.

27. The lead of claim 20, wherein:

the distal portion of the first lead body further includes a first plurality of conductive rings longitudinally spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by a first set of insulating members;

the distal portion of the second lead body further includes a second plurality of conductive rings longitudinally spaced apart from one another and separated by one another by a second set of insulating members;

each electrode surface of the first column is welded to a corresponding conductive ring of the first plurality of conductive rings; and

each electrode surface of the second column is welded to a corresponding conductive ring of the second plurality of conductive rings.

28. The lead of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second lead bodies is formed by a medical electrical lead of a type having a generally cylindrical configuration adapted for percutaneous implantation.

29. The lead of claim 20, wherein the second side of the paddle-like member includes an approximately flat surface extending between the first and second columns.

30. A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation, comprising:

a distal portion including a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a first column of electrode surfaces mounted in the distal portion and exposed along the first side; and

a second column of electrode surfaces mounted in the distal portion and exposed along the first side, the second column being spaced apart from the first column and extending alongside the first column;

wherein the first side of the distal portion includes a concave portion extending between the electrode surfaces of the first and second columns and the second side of the distal portion includes a flat portion extending between the first and second columns.

31. The lead of claim 30, wherein each electrode surface of the first and second columns is approximately planar.

32. The lead of claim 31, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is angled toward each electrode surface of the second column such that a plane extending along the first column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the first column intersects a plane extending along the second column and orthogonally out from the electrode surfaces of the second column.

33. The lead of claim 30, wherein each electrode surface of the first column is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding electrode surface of the second column.

34. The lead of claim 30, further comprising:

a first lead body extending within the distal portion, the first lead body including a first plurality of conductors isolated from one another, and each of the first plurality of conductors coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the first column of electrode surfaces; and

a second lead body extending within the distal portion, the second lead body including a second plurality of conductors isolated from one another, and each of the second plurality of conductors coupled to a corresponding electrode surface of the second column of electrode surfaces.

35. The lead of claim 34, wherein each electrode surface of the first column extends laterally away from the first lead body and each electrode surface of the second column extends laterally away from the second lead body.