SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WITH LEADS THAT COUPLE TO MULTIPLE CONNECTOR PORTS

• US 20130218154A1
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• 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 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

An electrical stimulation system includes a lead and a connector assembly. The lead includes electrodes, a first terminal array, a second terminal array, and conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminal arrays. The connector assembly includes a first connector port that is open at opposing ends and that electrically couples to the first terminal array. The connector assembly also includes a second connector port that is open at a first end and electrically couples to the second terminal array. The lead and connector assembly simultaneously receive a first portion of the lead, containing the first terminal array, within the first connector port; extend a second portion of the lead out of one end of the first connector port and into the second connector port; and receive a third portion of the lead, containing the second terminal array, within the second connector port of the connector assembly.

Claims

1. An electrical stimulation system comprising:

a lead having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead,

a first terminal array disposed along the proximal end of the lead,

a second terminal array disposed along the proximal end of the lead and proximal to, and spaced-apart from, the first terminal array, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the first terminal array and the second terminal array; and

a connector assembly configured and arranged for receiving the lead, the connector assembly comprising

a first connector port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the first connector port is open at each of the first and second ends,

a first array of connector contacts disposed in the first connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the first terminal array,

a second connector port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the second connector port is open at the first end, and

a second array of connector contacts disposed in the second connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the second terminal array,

wherein the lead and connector assembly are configured and arranged for simultaneously receiving a first portion of the lead, containing the first terminal array, within the first connector port of the connector assembly;

extending a second portion of the lead out of the second end of the first connector port and into the first end of the second connector port; and

receiving a third portion of the lead, containing the second terminal array, within the second connector port of the connector assembly, wherein the second portion of the lead is between the first portion of the lead and the third portion of the lead.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second connector port is open at the second end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second connector port is closed at the second end.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector port and the second connector port are arranged on the connector assembly in a side-by-side configuration.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control module, the control module configured and arranged to electrically couple to the lead, the control module comprising

a housing, and

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing, the electronic subassembly comprising a pulse generator configured and arranged for providing stimulation pulses to the plurality of electrodes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the connector assembly is disposed on the control module.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a lead extension having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the connector assembly is disposed on the distal end of the lead extension and the proximal end of the lead extension is configured and arranged to electrically couple with the control module.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal array has a first diameter and the second terminal array has a second diameter that is equal to the first diameter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first terminal array has a first diameter and the second terminal array has a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second diameter is no more than 90% as large as the first diameter.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector port has a first port diameter and the second connector port has a second port diameter that is different from the first port diameter.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second port diameter is no more than 90% as large as the first port diameter.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the lead further comprises at least one conductor that extends between the first terminal array and the second terminal array without extending to any of the plurality of electrodes.

14. A method for implanting an electrical stimulation system, the method comprising:

advancing the electrical stimulation system of claim 1 into a body of a patient;

extending the proximal end of the lead into the first end of the first connector port and out the second end of the first connector port;

aligning the first terminal array of the lead with the first array of connector contacts;

inserting a portion of the lead extending from the second end of the first connector port into the second connector port; and

aligning the second terminal array of the lead with the second array of connector contacts.

15. An implantable electrical system comprising:

a lead having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead,

a first terminal array disposed along the proximal end of the lead, the first terminal array comprising a plurality of terminals, wherein adjacent terminals of the first terminal array are separated from one another along the longitudinal length of the lead by an intra-array center-to-center spacing,

a second terminal array disposed along the proximal end of the lead and proximal to the first terminal array, the second terminal array comprising a plurality of terminals, wherein adjacent terminals of the second terminal array are separated from one another along the longitudinal length of the lead by the intra-array center-to-center spacing, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the first terminal array and the second terminal array;

a first implantable medical device configured and arranged to electrically couple to the lead;

a first connector disposed on the first implantable medical device and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the lead containing the first terminal array, the first connector comprising

a first connector port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the first connector port is open at each of the first and second end,

a first array of connector contacts disposed in the first connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the first terminal array,

a second implantable medical device configured and arranged to electrically couple to the lead;

a second connector disposed on the second implantable medical device and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the lead containing the second terminal array, the second connector comprising

a second connector port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the second connector port is open at the first end, and

a second array of connector contacts disposed in the second connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the second terminal array.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first implantable medical device or the second implantable medical devices is a control module comprising

a housing, and

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing, the electronic subassembly comprising a pulse generator for providing stimulation pulses to the plurality of electrodes.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first implantable medical device or the second implantable medical devices is an EEG system, an RF heating system, or an RF ablation system.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein a terminal of the first terminal array disposed closest to the second terminal array, and a terminal of the second terminal array disposed closest to the first terminal array are separated from one another along the longitudinal length of the lead by an inter-array center-to-center spacing, and wherein the inter-array center-to-center spacing is at least three times larger than the intra-array center-to-center spacing.

19. An electrical stimulation system comprising:

a lead having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead,

a first terminal array disposed along the proximal end of the lead,

a second terminal array disposed at the proximal end of the lead and proximal to the first terminal array, wherein the second terminal array is spaced-apart from the first terminal array along the longitudinal length of the lead, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the first terminal array and the second terminal array; and

a connector assembly configured and arranged for receiving the lead, the connector assembly comprising

a first connector port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the first connector port is open at each of the first and second ends,

a first array of connector contacts disposed in the first connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the first terminal array,

a second port having a first end and an opposing second end and forming a continuous passageway therebetween, wherein the second connector port is open at the first end, and

a second array of connector contacts disposed in the second connector port and configured and arranged to electrically couple to the second terminal array; and

a lead insertion tool configured and arranged to facilitate insertion of the lead into at least one of the first connector port or the second connector port by pulling the proximal end of the lead through at least one of the first connector port or the second connector port.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the lead insertion tool comprises a lead-receiving feature configured and arranged to removably retain the proximal end of the lead while pulling the proximal end of the lead through at least one of the first connector port or the second connector port.