VACUUM MANDREL FOR USE IN FABRICATING AN IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE

• US 20100101944A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: SCIACCA, Joseph J., KOLLATSCHNY, Shawn D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,901,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/290.10
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/72 Encapsulating inserts having non-encapsulated projections, e.g. extremities or terminal portions of electrical components B29C70/742 takes precedence

Abstract

A vacuum mandrel for use in fabricating an implantable electrode comprises a hollow body member and a first groove provided radially on an outer surface of the hollow body member. The first groove is adapted to receive an implantable electrode and retain the electrode in place with a vacuum pressure during an elastomeric encapsulation of the electrode. The vacuum mandrel further comprises a vacuum port provided in the first groove.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method of making an electrode, comprising:

providing a mandrel comprising a first groove in an outer surface thereof, and a vacuum port in said first groove,

providing an electrode coupled to an end of a lead;

positioning said electrode in said first groove over said vacuum port;

retaining said electrode in said first groove through vacuum pressure applied through said vacuum port; and

applying an elastomer over said conductive electrode while said electrode is retained in said first groove.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the mandrel comprises providing a pair of second longitudinal grooves formed at opposing ends of said first groove.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the mandrel comprises providing a raised surface in the first groove on which the vacuum port is provided.

16. The method of claim 16 wherein said vacuum mandrel further comprises at least one longitudinal groove formed at one end of said first groove, and wherein applying said elastomer comprises applying said elastomer to said and least one longitudinal groove.

17. An electrode manufactured according to a method comprising:

locating a conductive ribbon electrode in a first groove of a hollow body member,

said groove containing at least one vacuum port; and

retaining said conductive electrode in said spiral groove through vacuum pressure

applied through said at least one vacuum port; and

applying an elastomer over said conductive electrode while said electrode is

retained in place.

18. The electrode of claim 17 further manufactured by applying the elastomer in at least one longitudinal groove portion formed on the hollow body, the elastomer applied to said a least one longitudinal groove portion comprising a gripping surface to be used during implantation.

19-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of making an electrode, comprising:

positioning an electrode in a first groove in an outer surface of a mandrel, said first groove comprising a vacuum port;

retaining said electrode in said first groove through vacuum pressure applied through said vacuum port; and

applying an elastomer over said conductive electrode while said electrode is retained in said first groove.