ELECTRODE DESIGN FOR LEADS OF IMPLANTABLE ELECTRIC STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING

• US 20100094387A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: DiGiore, Andrew, Pianca, Anne Margaret
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A lead includes a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end. A plurality of terminals are disposed at the proximal end of the lead body. A plurality of electrodes are disposed at the distal end of the lead body. Each electrode includes an electrode body and at least one anchoring member. The at least one anchoring member couples to the electrode body and extends into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body. A plurality of conductive wires electrically couple the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals.

Claims

1. A lead comprising:

a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end of the lead body;

a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end of the lead body, each electrode comprising an electrode body and at least one anchoring member, the at least one anchoring member coupled to the electrode body and extending into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein a surface of the electrode body is flush with a surface of the lead body.

3. The lead of claim 1, wherein a surface of the electrode body is inset from a surface of the lead body.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein a surface of the electrode body protrudes from a surface of the lead body.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchoring member comprises a proximal region and a distal region.

6. The lead of claim 5, wherein at least one of the proximal region and the distal region of the at least one anchoring member bends inwardly.

7. The lead of claim 5, wherein the proximal region of the at least one anchoring member extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a surface of the lead body.

8. The lead of claim 5, wherein the distal region of the at least one anchoring member extends in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the lead body.

9. The lead of claim 5, wherein the distal end of at least one anchoring member comprises one or more teeth.

10. An electrical stimulating system comprising:

a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end of the lead body;

a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end of the lead body, each electrode comprising an electrode body and at least one anchoring member, the at least one anchoring member coupled to the electrode body and extending into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals;

a control module configured and arranged to electrically couple to the proximal end of the lead body, the control module comprising

a housing, and

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and

a connector for receiving the lead body, the connector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length, the connector configured and arranged to receive the lead body, the connector comprising

a connector housing defining a port at the distal end of the connector, the port configured and arranged for receiving the proximal end of the lead body, and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to at least one of the plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body.

11. The electrical stimulating system of claim 10, wherein the connector is disposed on the control module.

12. The electrical stimulating system of claim 10, further including a lead extension having a distal end and at least one proximal end, the connector disposed on the distal end of the lead extension.

13. The electrical stimulating system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the proximal ends of the lead extension is configured and arranged for insertion into another connector.

14. The electrical stimulating system of claim 12, wherein the at least one anchoring member comprises a proximal region and a distal region.

15. The electrical stimulating system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the proximal region and the distal region of the at least one anchoring member bends inwardly.

16. The electrical stimulating system of claim 14, wherein the distal end of at least one anchoring member comprises one or more teeth.

17. A method for forming a lead, the method comprising:

placing a plurality of electrodes with electrode bodies into an arrangement so that the electrode bodies of the electrodes are separated from one another, each electrode comprising an electrode body and at least one anchoring member extending beneath the electrode body;

forming a lead body around the plurality of electrodes so that the electrodes are disposed at a distal end of the lead body, the lead body also formed between two or more anchoring members of each electrode; and

electrically coupling each of the plurality of electrodes to a plurality of terminals disposed on a proximal end of the lead body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming a lead body around the plurality of electrodes comprises forming the lead body so that a surface of each electrode body is flush with a surface of the lead body.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein forming a lead body around the plurality of electrodes comprises forming the lead body so that a surface of each electrode body is inset from a surface of the lead body.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein forming a lead body around the plurality of electrodes comprises forming the lead body so that a surface of each electrode body protrudes from a surface of the lead body.