Freestanding Thin Film For A System For Neural Applications

• US 20130282090A1
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Young, Edward Willem Albert, Wang, Ke, Decr, Michel Marcel Jose, Deckers, Jacobus Adrianus Johanna Maria, van Pijkeren, Dirk, Henneken, Vincent Adrianus
• Granted Patent: US 9,393,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• 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: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/00 Printed circuits

Abstract

A lead for use in neural stimulation comprises a core section having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of electrodes is coupled to the core section proximate the distal end. At least one contact is coupled to the core section proximate the proximal end. At least one thin film is wound around the core section from the proximal end to the distal end and electrically coupling the at least one contact and the plurality of electrodes. The at least one thin film forms a curved substantially planar shape in a relaxed state before being wound around the core section.

Claims

1. A freestanding thin film for a system for neural applications comprising:

a curved winding, the curved winding being planary when outstretched on a substantially flat surface.

2. The thin film according to claim 1, wherein the winding is a spiral winding.

3. The thin film according to claim 1, wherein the length of the thin film is greater than the diameter of a substrate wafer used for producing the thin film

4. The thin film according to claim 3, wherein the length of the film is at least 21 cm.

5. The thin film according to claim 3, wherein the length of the film is at least 25 cm.

6. The thin film according to claim 3, wherein the width of the thin film is not greater than 1.25 mm.

7. The thin film according to claim 3, wherein the width of the thin film is not greater than 1 mm.

8. The thin film according to claim 1, wherein the thin film comprises at least one metal track which is at least partially comprised of a noble metal.

9. The thin film according to claim 8, wherein the at least one metal track comprises at least one section comprising a high conductive metal and a low conductive metal, wherein the low conductive metal is a biocompatible metal and has a lower electrical conductivity than the high conductive metal and wherein the high conductive metal is at least partially encapsuled by the low conductive metal.

10. The thin film according to claim 9, wherein the high conductive metal comprises gold and/or copper and/or aluminium and/or silver or is gold or copper or aluminium or silver and/or the low conductive metal comprises platinum and/or titanium and/or titanium nitride or is platinum or titanium or titanium nitride.

17. The lead core according to claim 10, wherein the lead core is at least partially made of polymer and/or is a stylet and/or that the lead core has a core diameter within a range of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

18. The lead core according to claim 17, wherein the lead core has a core diameter within a range of about 0.75 mm to about 1.25 mm.

19. The lead core according to claim 18, wherein the core diameter is about 1 mm.

20. A lead for a system for neural applications, comprising:

at least one thin film according to claim 1.

21. A probe for a system for neural applications, comprising:

at least one thin film according to claim 1.

11. A method of manufacturing a freestanding thin film for neural applications comprising:

forming a thin film by depositing at least one material such that the thin film forms at least partially a curved winding, the curved winding being planary when deposited on a substantially flat surface.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

depositing at least two thin films on the flat surface.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

arranging the at least two thin films at least partially in parallel on the substantially flat surface.

14. A wafer comprising:

at least one surface; and

at least one thin film deposited on the at least one surface, the at least one thin film at least partially forming a planary curved winding when outstretched on the at least one surface.

15. A lead core for a lead for neural applications comprising:

at least one lead core section which has a shape that is configured such that a thin film can be laid and/or wound on and/or around the shape, the thin film forming an at least partially curved winding, the curved winding being planary when outstretched on a substantially flat surface.

16. The lead core according to claim 15, wherein the lead core or the at least one lead core section comprises at least one groove for receiving the thin film, the at least one groove configured such that the thin film can be fully embedded within the at least one groove.

22. A lead for use in neural stimulation comprising:

a core section having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of electrodes coupled to the core section proximate the distal end;

at least one contact coupled to the core section proximate the proximal end; and

at least one thin film wound around the core section from the proximal end to the distal end and electrically coupling the at least one contact and the plurality of electrodes, the at least one thin film forming a curved substantially planar shape in a relaxed state before being wound around the core section.

23. The lead according to claim 22, wherein the substantially planar curved winding is spiral in shape in the relaxed state.

24. A film for use in a lead for neural stimulation comprising:

a proximal end having at least one contact;

a distal end having a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the at least one contact; and

a cable portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the cable portion configured to be wrapped around and along an implantable lead, the cable portion forming a curved substantially planar shape in a relaxed state before being wound around the implantable lead.

25. The film according to claim 24, wherein the cable portion forms a curved substantially planar spiral shape in the relaxed state.