ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TISSUE STIMULATION AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE

• US 20080140168A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Flowers, Matthew, Terterian, Greg, Walter, Jeryle L., Tong, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A lead has a paddle body with a non-conductive material and multiple electrodes disposed within the non-conductive material. At least one of the electrodes includes one or more anchoring arrangement, such as opening(s) through the electrode through which the non-conductive material can pass; anchors that extend away from the electrode and into the non-conductive material of the paddle body; or flow-through anchors attached to the electrode with an opening through which the non-conductive material may pass.

Claims

1. A lead comprising:

a paddle body comprising

a non-conductive material, and

a plurality of electrodes disposed within the non-conductive material, at least one of the electrodes comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, at least one of the electrodes defining at least one opening through which the non-conductive material extends.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings.

3. The lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening has a slot shape.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein each of the electrodes comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the sidewall portion defining at least one opening through which the non-conductive material extends.

12. A stimulation system, comprising:

the lead of claim 1; and

a control module coupleable to the lead for providing electrical signals to the electrodes for stimulating tissue.

13. The stimulation system of claim 12, wherein the lead and control module are implantable.

14. The stimulation system of claim 12, wherein the control module comprises a power source.

5. A lead comprising:

a paddle body comprising

a non-conductive material, and

a plurality of electrodes disposed within the non-conductive material, at least one of the electrodes comprising at least one anchor that extends away from the electrode and into the non-conductive material of the paddle body.

6. The lead of claim 5, wherein the at least one anchor defines an opening through which the non-conductive material of the paddle body is disposed.

7. The lead of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes comprises at least one anchor that extends into the lead body.

8. The lead of claim 5, wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of anchors that extend into the non-conductive material of the paddle body.

9. The lead of claim 8, wherein the plurality of anchors comprises at least two anchors disposed on opposite sides of the at least one electrode.

10. The lead of claim 9, wherein the at least two anchors are laterally offset from each other.

11. The lead of claim 5, wherein the at least one anchor extends from, or near, a bottom surface of the electrode.

15. A method of making a lead, comprising:

providing a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and a sidewall portion extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, at least one of the electrodes defining at least one opening; and

disposing the plurality of electrodes in a non-conductive material, wherein the non-conductive material passes through the at least one opening.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein disposing the plurality of electrodes in the non-conductive material comprises molding the non-conductive material around the plurality of electrodes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein disposing the plurality of electrodes in a non-conductive material comprises flowing the non-conductive material through the at least one opening and then forming a solid mass with the non-conductive material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming a solid mass with the non-conductive material comprises polymerizing or cross-linking the non-conductive material.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a conductor to each of the plurality of electrodes.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein molding the non-conductive material comprises molding the non-conductive material to expose at least a portion of a top surface of each of the plurality of electrodes.