MEDICAL LEADS WITH SEGMENTED ELECTRODES AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF

• US 20110047795A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dye, Don, Turner, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/873,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/876
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a segmented electrode stimulation lead for implantation within a human patient for stimulation of tissue of the patient, the method comprises: providing a conductive ring, the conductive ring comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the conductive ring comprising a plurality of grooves provided in the inner surface; electrically coupling a plurality of wires to the conductive ring; forming a stimulation assembly of the lead including the conductive ring and the plurality of wires; and grinding down the outer surface of the stimulation assembly of the lead at least until reaching the plurality of grooves to separate the conductive ring into a plurality of electrically isolated segmented electrodes.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a segmented electrode stimulation lead for implantation within a human patient for stimulation of tissue of the patient, the method comprising:

providing a conductive ring, the conductive ring comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the conductive ring comprising a plurality of grooves provided in the inner surface;

electrically coupling a plurality of wires to the conductive ring;

forming a stimulation assembly of the lead including the conductive ring and the plurality of wires; and

grinding down the outer surface of the stimulation assembly of the lead at least until reaching the plurality of grooves to separate the conductive ring into a plurality of electrically isolated segmented electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

machining the plurality of grooves in a substantially annular ring of metal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive ring comprises a medial portion with a reduced outer surface and distal portions at a first end and a second end of the conductive ring with an outer surface greater than the reduced outer surface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive ring comprises an alignment structure disposed length-wise along the outer surface of the conductive ring.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive ring is fabricated from platinum iridium material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrically coupling comprises:

bending a respective wire over an edge of the conductive ring and into a channel within the conductive ring; and

laser welding the respective wire to the conductive ring.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves of the conductive ring are filled with polymer material before the conductive ring is used in the forming of the stimulation assembly.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming comprises:

over-molding the conductive ring and the plurality of wires.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the over-molding overmolds a biocompatible polycarbonate urethane material over the conductive ring and the plurality of wires.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

electrically coupling the plurality of wires with a second plurality of wires of a lead body.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the electrically coupling the plurality of wires with a second plurality of wires comprises:

placing the plurality of wires and the second plurality of wires within grooves formed axially along an annular substrate of insulative material.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the annular substrate is fabricated from a polymer material capable of being placed in a state of flow.