ELECTRODE ARRAY HAVING A RAIL SYSTEM AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20110130817A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end. The lead includes a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead. The longitudinal rail includes at least two prongs, each prong being configured and arranged to receive at least one segmented electrode. The lead further includes a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes is coupled to one of the at least two prongs of the rail.

Claims

1. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:

a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end, the lead comprising;

a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead and comprising at least two prongs, each prong being configured and arranged to receive at least one segmented electrode; and

a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes coupled to a one of the at least two prongs of the rail.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two prongs are uniformly spaced around the circumference of the rail.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises three prongs.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises four prongs.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rail comprises five prongs.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the segmented electrodes are disposed on a same one of the at least two prongs.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spacer disposed between the at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed on a same one of the at least two prongs.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lead body, at least a portion of the lead body at least partially disposed in voids between the plurality of segmented electrodes.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two prongs are configured and arranged such that the plurality of segmented electrodes are uniformly radially arranged around the circumference of the rail.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two prongs comprises at least one securing tab configured and arranged to receive the plurality of segmented electrodes.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of segmented electrodes comprises a passage with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the at least one securing tab of each of the at least two prongs.

16. An implantable stimulation device, comprising:

the device of claim 1; and

a control module coupleable to the lead.

17. The implantable stimulation device of claim 16, wherein the implantable stimulation device is a deep brain stimulator.

12. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:

a lead having a longitudinal surface and a distal end, the lead comprising;

a longitudinal rail disposed within the distal end of the lead and comprising at least two prongs for receiving at least one segmented electrode; and

a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead, the plurality of segmented electrodes being configured and arranged to couple to the prongs of the rail.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of segmented electrodes are disposed at predetermined longitudinal levels along the length of the rail.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein at least two of the segmented electrodes are disposed on a same one of the at least two prongs and further comprising a spacer disposed between the at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed on a same one of the at least two prongs.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a lead body, at least a portion of the lead body being disposed in voids between the plurality of segmented electrodes.

18. A method of manufacturing a device for brain stimulation, the method comprising:

forming a longitudinal rail having at least two prongs, each prong being configured and arranged to receive a plurality of segmented electrodes;

coupling a plurality of segmented electrodes to the rail, the plurality of segmented electrodes being configured and arranged to couple to the at least two prongs of the rail;

introducing at least one set of spacers at a predetermined longitudinal level along the length of the rail, each set of spacers being configured and arranged to divide the plurality of segmented electrodes into different longitudinal levels; and

forming a substantially cylindrical lead body, the substantially cylindrical lead body being configured to at least partially surround the longitudinal rail, the plurality of segmented electrodes and the at least one set of spacers.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising grinding the plurality of segmented electrodes and the at least one set of spacers so that the lead is isodiametric.

20. the method of claim 18, wherein forming a substantially cylindrical lead body comprises back-filling a lead body.