LEAD BODY WITH INNER AND OUTER CO-AXIAL COILS

• US 20130053864A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: GEROY, JESSE, Swoyer, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/048 for implantation into a human or animal body, e.g. pacemaker leads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

A biomedical conductor assembly adapted for at least partial insertion in a living body. The conductor assembly includes a plurality of the first electrical conductors each covered with an insulator and helically wound in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen. A plurality of second electrical conductors each including a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a plurality of cables. Each cable is covered with an insulator and helically wound in a second opposite direction forming an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil. The inner and outer coils are covered by an insulator. A method of making the conductor assembly and implanting a neurostimulation system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A biomedical conductor assembly adapted for at least partial insertion in a living body, the conductor assembly comprising:

a plurality of first electrical conductors each covered with an insulator;

a plurality of second electrical conductors each comprising a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a cable, each cable is covered with an insulator, the un-insulated wires are movable with respect to each within the insulator, a plurality of the first electrical conductors are helically wound in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen, and a plurality of the second electrical connectors are helically wound in a second opposite direction to form an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil; and

an insulator covering the inner and outer coils.

2. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner coil slides relative to the outer coil within the conductor assembly.

3. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the first electrical conductors comprise a plurality of discrete insulated wires.

4. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the first electrical conductors comprise a plurality of un-insulated wires that are twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a cable wherein each cable is covered with an insulator.

5. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the un-insulated wires in the second electrical conductors comprise a core of a first material surrounded by a covering of a second material.

6. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the second electrical conductors comprise a center wire of a homogeneous material and a plurality of un-insulated wires that are twisted in a ropelike configuration around the center wire.

7. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the second electrical conductors comprises a plurality of un-insulated wires wrapped around a center wire, where the center wire comprises a greater breaking strength than the un-insulated wires.

8. The conductor assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner coil comprises four discrete insulated wires and the outer coil comprises four or eight discrete insulated cables.

9. A biomedical conductor assembly adapted for at least partial insertion in a living body, the conductor assembly comprising:

a plurality of the first electrical conductors that are each covered with an insulator and are helically wound in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen;

a plurality of second electrical conductors that are helically wound in a second opposite direction forming an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil, each of the second electrical conductors comprising a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis and covered with an insulator; and

an insulator covering the inner and outer coils.

10. A therapy delivery element comprising:

an elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, the lead body comprising a plurality of the first electrical conductors are each covered with an insulator and helically wound in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen, a plurality of second electrical conductors are each comprising a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a plurality of cables, each cable is covered with an insulator and helically wound in a second opposite direction forming an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil, and an insulator covering the inner and outer coils; and

at least one electrically conductive connector operatively associated with the proximal end of the lead body and at least one electrode operatively associated with the distal end of the lead body, each matched set of connectors and electrodes electrically are coupled with one of the first or second electrical conductors.

11. The therapy delivery element of claim 10 comprising a stylet wire having a distal end insert into the lumen through an opening at the proximal end of the lead body and a proximal end attached to a stylet handle.

12. A neurostimulation system comprising:

an implantable pulse generator;

a therapy delivery element comprising;

an elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, the lead body comprising a plurality of the first electrical conductors that are each covered with an insulator and are helically wound in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen, a plurality of second electrical conductors each comprising a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a plurality of cables, each cable is covered with an insulator and is helically wound in a second opposite direction forming an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil, and an insulator covering the inner and outer coils;

at least one electrically conductive connector operatively associated with the proximal end of the lead body and at least one electrode operatively associated with the distal end of the lead body, each matched set of connectors and electrodes are electrically coupled with one of the first or second electrical conductors, wherein the connectors are adapted to electrically couple with the implantable pulse generator; and

a stylet wire having a distal end insert into the lumen through an opening at the proximal end of the lead body and a proximal end attached to a stylet handle.

13. A method of making a therapy delivery element adapted for at least partial insertion in a living body, the method comprising the steps of:

helically winding a plurality of the first electrical conductors that are each covered with an insulator in a first direction to form an inner coil with a lumen;

helically winding a plurality of second electrical conductors in a second opposite direction to form an outer coil in direct physical contact with the inner coil, each of the second electrical conductors comprising a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a plurality of cables each covered with an insulator;

applying an insulator covering to the inner and outer coils to form a lead body; and

attached at least one electrically conductive connector to a proximal end of the lead body and at least one electrode to a distal end of the lead body, each matched set of connectors and electrodes are electrically coupled with one of the first or second electrical conductors.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the inner coil slides relative to the outer coil within the conductor assembly.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first electrical conductors comprise a plurality of discrete insulated wires.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first electrical conductors comprise a plurality of un-insulated wires twisted in a ropelike configuration around a central axis to form a cable, each cable covered with an insulator, the un-insulated wires movable with respect to each within the insulator.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the second electrical conductors comprises a plurality of un-insulated wires wrapped around a center wire, where the center wire comprises a greater breaking strength than the un-insulated wires.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the inner coil comprises four discrete insulated wires and the outer coil comprises four or eight discrete insulated cables.

19. The method of claim 13 comprising the step of inserting a distal end of a stylet wire into the lumen through an opening at the proximal end of the therapy delivery element.

20. The method of implanting a neurostimulation system comprising the steps of:

grasping a stylet handle attached to the stylet wire of claim 19;

steering the electrodes at a distal end of a therapy delivery element to a target location within the living body;

removing the stylet from the therapy delivery element;

implanting an implantable pulse generator within the living body; and

electrically coupling the electrical contacts at the proximal end of the therapy delivery element with the implantable pulse generator.