ELECTRODE ARRAY HAVING CONCENTRIC SPLIT RING ELECTRODES AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

• US 20110130818A1
• 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 8,874,232 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: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A device for brain stimulation includes a lead body having a longitudinal surface and a distal end. The device further includes at least one ring array. The at least one ring array includes a plurality of split ring electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body. Each of the plurality of split ring electrodes includes a stimulating portion and a base portion coupled to the stimulating portion. The split ring electrodes of the at least one ring array are arranged about the circumference of the lead body. At least a portion of the base portion of at least one of the plurality of split ring electrodes is disposed below, and insulated from, at least a portion of the stimulating portion of another of the plurality of split electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:

a lead body having a longitudinal surface and a distal end; and

at least one ring array comprising a plurality of split ring electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, each of the plurality of split ring electrodes comprising a stimulating portion and a base portion coupled to the stimulating portion, wherein the split ring electrodes of the at least one ring array are arranged about the circumference of the lead body, and wherein at least a portion of the base portion of at least one of the plurality of split ring electrodes is disposed below, and insulated from, at least a portion of the stimulating portion of another of the plurality of split electrodes.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one ring array comprises two split ring electrodes.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one ring array comprises at least three split ring electrodes.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one ring array comprises at least four split ring electrodes.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the three split ring electrodes are interlocked such that a portion of the base portion of each split ring electrode is disposed below a portion of the stimulating portion of an adjacent split ring electrode.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an insulative coating on the base portion of each of the plurality of split ring electrodes.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the insulative coating is applied using a dip-molding process.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the stimulating portion comprises at least a section of a circle having a first radius and the base portion comprises at least a section of a second circle having a second radius, the first radius being greater than the second radius.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of split ring electrodes are disposed on the lead body so that the device is isodiametric.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer disposed adjacent to one of the at least one ring array.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of conductors coupled to the plurality of split ring electrodes.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one ring array are radially aligned with the others.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least two ring arrays, wherein the stimulating portions of the split ring electrodes of a one of ring arrays are radially offset from the stimulating portions of the split ring electrodes of another of the ring arrays.

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.

14. A device for brain stimulation, comprising:

a lead body having a longitudinal surface and a distal end; and

a plurality of split ring electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, each of the plurality of split ring electrodes comprising a stimulating portion and a base portion coupled to the stimulating portion,

wherein the split ring electrodes are arranged such that the base portions are arranged around an inner circle having a first radius and the stimulating portions are arranged around an outer circle having a second radius, wherein the first radius is less than the second radius.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the inner circle and the outer circle are concentric.

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

forming a lead body having a longitudinal surface and a distal end; and

forming at least one ring array comprising a plurality of split ring electrodes at the distal end of the lead body, each of the plurality of split ring electrodes comprising a stimulating portion and a base portion coupled to the stimulating portion, wherein the split ring electrodes of the at least one ring array are arranged about the circumference of the lead body and wherein at least a portion of the base portion of at least one of the plurality of split ring electrodes is disposed below and insulated from, at least a portion of the stimulating portion of another of the plurality of split electrodes.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising aligning the at least one ring array using alignment tabs.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising grinding the alignment tabs so that the lead body and the plurality of split ring electrodes are isodiametric.