LEADS WITH SPIRALLY ARRANGED SEGMENTED ELECTRODES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE LEADS

• US 20120203320A1
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• 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, Moffitt, Michael Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,649,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes with each of the segmented electrodes having an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. At least one of the segmented electrodes includes one or more of a) at least one channel formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode, b) an arcuate groove formed in at least one of the distal end surface or the proximal end surface, or c) a notch formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

Claims

1. A stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes, each of the segmented electrodes comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, at least one of the segmented electrodes comprising at least one channel formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

2. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the channel is open along the interior surface.

3. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the channel has a circular cross-section.

4. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the channel has a trapezoidal or triangular cross-section.

5. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the channel has a T-shaped or L-shaped cross-section.

6. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein each segmented electrodes comprises at least one channel formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

7. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel is a plurality of channels.

8. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein at least one of the segmented electrodes comprises a groove formed in the exterior surface and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

9. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein each segmented electrode further comprises a distal end surface and a proximal end surface, wherein at least one segmented electrode comprises an arcuate groove formed in at least one of the distal end surface or the proximal end surface.

10. A stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes, each of the segmented electrodes comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, at least one of the segmented electrodes comprising an arcuate groove formed in at least one of the distal end surface or the proximal end surface.

11. The stimulation lead of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the segmented electrodes comprises arcuate grooves formed in both the distal end surface and the proximal end surface.

12. The stimulation lead of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the segmented electrodes further comprises at least one notch formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

13. A stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes, each of the segmented electrodes comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, at least one of the segmented electrodes comprising a notch formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode.

14. The stimulation lead of claim 13, wherein the notch extends from a lateral surface of the segmented electrode inward toward a center of the segmented electrode.

15. The stimulation lead of claim 13, wherein the notch extends from a center of the segmented electrode outward toward a lateral surface of the segmented electrode.

16. The stimulation lead of claim 13, wherein the at least one of the segmented electrodes comprises two notches.

17. A method of making a stimulation lead, the method comprising

disposing at least one pre-electrode along a longitudinal surface of a lead body near a distal end of the lead body, the at least one pre-electrode comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes, each of the segmented electrodes comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, at least one of the segmented electrodes comprising at least one channel, at least one notch, or a combination thereof formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode;

inserting non-conductive material into the at least one channel; and

reflowing the non-conductive material within the at least one channel to facilitate retention of the segmented electrode with the stimulation lead.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pre-electrode defines a cutout between each of the segmented electrodes of the pre-electrode, the method further comprising inserting non-conductive material into the cutout between each of the segmented electrodes and reflowing the non-conductive material within the cutout between each of the segmented electrodes.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the non-conductive material is a monofilament.

20. The method of claim 17, the method of claim 17, wherein the at least one pre-electrode comprises at least two pre-electrodes, the method further comprising disposing at least one spacer between two of the at least two pre-electrodes,

wherein reflowing the non-conductive material comprises reflowing the at least one spacer and the non-conductive material within the at least one channel to facilitate retention of the segmented electrode with the stimulation lead.