LEAD OR LEAD EXTENSION HAVING A CONDUCTIVE BODY AND CONDUCTIVE BODY CONTACT

• US 20080269863A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Metzler, Michael E., Alexander, James A., Olson, Robert L., Lahti, Jay K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0488 Details about the lead
• 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 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads

Abstract

An implantable medical device that includes a body that includes a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by an apparatus, and a distal end portion; a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body; a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that, when received by the apparatus, at least a portion of the apparatus is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact; a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact; a conductive body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation; a conductive body contact, wherein the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact. Systems that include devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a body comprising

(i) a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by an apparatus, and

(ii) a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that, when received by the apparatus, at least a portion of the apparatus is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation;

a conductive body contact;

wherein the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive body is configured to shield at least a portion of the device from electromagnetic radiation.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body comprises titanium, stainless steel, platinum, gold plated microspheres, solid particles of conductive polymers, carbon powder, carbon fibers, intrinsically conductive polymers, and combinations thereof.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body comprises a sheet, a braid, a wire, a coil, a foil, a powder, or some combination thereof

5. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body contact is configured to extend the shielding effect of the conductive body.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive body is configured to function as an antenna for the device.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body contact comprises a first part having an outer surface and a second part having an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface of the second part being complementarily configured relative to at least a portion of the outer surface of the first part, and

wherein at least a portion of the conductive body is disposed between the first and second parts of the contact.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the first part of the conductive body contact is electrically coupled to the second part of the conductive body contact.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrical element is an electrical contact.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the device is an extension.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrical element is an electrode.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the device is a lead.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the device is an adapter configured to couple a lead or an extension to an implantable signal generator.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive body contact is configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the device with the apparatus.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein the conductive body contact is electrically connected to the apparatus with a set screw.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises a conductive body and the conductive body of the device is capable of being electrically connected to the conductive body of the apparatus.

17. A system comprising:

the implantable medical device of claim 1, and the apparatus by which the device of claim 1 is configured to be received.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the implantable medical device is an extension and the apparatus is a lead.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the lead comprises a conductive body that is not utilized for application of stimulation.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein conductive body contact is configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the extension to the conductive body of the lead.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the conductive body contact further comprises a set screw such that when tightened the set screw releasably mechanically attaches the device and the apparatus.

22. An implantable medical system comprising:

an extension comprising;

an extension body comprising a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by an apparatus, and a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the extension body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the extension body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that, when received by the apparatus, at least a portion of the apparatus is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation;

a conductive body contact that is electrically connected to the conductive body; and

a lead comprising;

a lead body having a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by the extension, and a distal end portion;

an electrode at the distal end portion of the lead body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal portion of the lead body, the stimulating contact being electrically coupled to the electrode and being positioned such that when received by the extension, at least a portion of the extension is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body;

wherein the conductive body contact of the extension and the conductive body of the lead are configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the lead and the conductive body of the extension.

23. The implantable medical system of claim 22, wherein the electrical connection of the conductive body contact of the extension to the conductive body of the lead is reversibly maintained by a set screw.