NOVEL FEATURES FOR ROUTING CONDUCTORS IN MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEAD ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES

• US 20080046051A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Skubitz, Sean P., Boatwright, Mary L., Bolea, Stephen L., Metzler, Michael E., Tower, Jessica L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body. A conductor, which is coupled to the coupling portion of the component, is disposed in the channel.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead electrode assembly, comprising:

an insulative body including an insulative layer and a pre-formed carrier coupled to the insulative layer, the carrier including a pre-formed channel, the channel including a first section extending approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier and a second section extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis and approximately co-planar with the first section of the channel;

a conductive component including an electrode portion disposed on a first side of the carrier and a tab extending away from the electrode portion and through the carrier to a second side of the carrier; and

a conductor disposed in the channel and coupled to the tab of the component;

wherein the conductor, the first and second sections of the channel, and the tab of the component are overlaid with the insulative layer.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second section of the channel extends between the tab and the first section of the channel.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the channel further includes a third section extending proximally from the insulative body;

the first section of the channel extends between the tab and the second section of the channel; and

the second section of the channel extends between the first section of the channel and the third section of the channel.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first section of the channel comprises a groove formed in the carrier.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the carrier further includes a pre-formed flap extending over the first section of the channel.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the channel comprise a groove formed in the carrier.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the carrier further includes a pre-formed flap extending over the first section of the channel.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second section of the channel includes a curved segment.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second section of the channel comprises a tubular member extending within the insulative member.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the tubular member includes a curved segment.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the tubular member includes an aperture formed in a sidewall thereof and the insulative layer extends through the aperture.

12. A medical electrical lead electrode assembly, comprising:

an insulative body;

at least one channel including a first portion embedded within the body and a second portion extending proximally from the body, the first portion including a curved segment;

at least one column of conductive components coupled to the body, the column extending approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, and each component of the column including an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body;

at least one set of conductors, each conductor coupled to the coupling portion of a corresponding component of the at least one column at a joint disposed within the body, and each conductor extending from the corresponding joint into the at least one channel.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one channel includes a first channel and a second channel;

the at least one column includes a first column and a second column; and

the at least one set of conductors includes a first set of conductors and a second set of conductors, the first set of conductors extending into the first channel and the second set of conductors extending into the second channel.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the curved segment of the first portion of the first channel is longitudinally offset from the curved segment of the first portion of the second channel.

15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein an apex of the curved segment of the first portion of the first channel is approximately aligned with an apex of the curved segment of the first portion of the second channel.

16. A medical electrical lead electrode assembly, comprising:

an insulative carrier including a first side, a second side, at least one channel formed in the second side and extending approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier, and at least one set of channels formed in the second side of the carrier, each channel of the at least one set of channels extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis;

at least one column of conductive components, the column extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, and each component of the at least one column including an electrode portion disposed on the first side of the carrier and a tab extending away from the electrode portion and through the carrier to the second side of the carrier; and

at least one set of conductors, each conductor of the at least one set of conductors disposed in the at least one channel and in a corresponding channel of the at least one set of channels; and

a plurality of joints, each joint of the plurality of joints coupling a conductor of the at least one set of conductors to a corresponding tab of the at least one column of components;

wherein each channel of the at least one set of channels extends between a corresponding component of the at least one column of components and the at least one channel.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a tubular channel extending from the carrier, the tubular channel including a pre-formed bend;

and wherein the at least one set of conductors are further disposed in the tubular channel

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one column of conductive components comprises a first column of conductive components and a second column of conductive components, the first and second columns disposed on either side of the at least one channel;

the at least one set of channels includes a first set of channels and a second set of channels, each channel of the first set of channels extending between a corresponding component of the first column and the at least one channel, and each channel of the second set of channels extending between a corresponding component of the second column and the at least one channel; and

the at least one set of conductors comprises a first set of conductors and a second set of conductors, each conductor of the first set of conductors disposed in the at least one channel and a corresponding channel of the first set of channels, and each conductor of the second set of conductors disposed in the at least one channel and the corresponding channel of the second set of channels.

19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a tubular channel extending from the carrier, the tubular channel including a pre-formed bend;

and wherein the first set and the second set of the at least one set of conductors are further disposed in the tubular channel

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one channel comprises a first channel and a second channel;

the first set of channels extends between the corresponding component of the first column and the first channel;

the second set of channels extends between the corresponding component of the second column and the second channel;

the first set of conductors is disposed in the first channel; and

the second set of conductors is disposed in the second channel.

21. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising a first tubular channel extending from the carrier and a second tubular channel extending from the carrier, each of the first and second tubular channels including a pre-formed bend;

and wherein the first set of conductors is further disposed in the first tubular channel, and the second set of conductors is further disposed in the second tubular channel.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one column of conductive components further comprises a third column of conductive components, the third column disposed between the first and second channels and including a first group of conductive components and a second group of conductive components;

the at least one set of channels further comprises a third set of channels, the third set of channels including a first group of channels and a second group of channels;

each channel of the first group of the third set of channels extends between a corresponding component of the first group of the third set of components;

each channel of the second group of the third set of channels extends between a corresponding component of the second group of the third set of components;

the at least one set of conductors further comprises a third set of conductors and a fourth set of conductors;

the third set of conductors is disposed in the first channel and each conductor of the third set of conductors is disposed in a corresponding channel of the first group of the third set of channels, and

the fourth set of conductors is disposed in the second channel and each conductor of the fourth set of conductors is disposed in a corresponding channel of the second group of the third set of channels.

23. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a first tubular channel extending from the carrier and a second tubular channel extending from the carrier, each of the first and second tubular channels including a pre-formed bend;

and wherein the first and third set of conductors are further disposed in the first tubular channel, and the second and fourth set of conductors are further disposed in the second tubular channel.