LEADS WITH NON-CIRCULAR-SHAPED DISTAL ENDS FOR BRAIN STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING

• US 20150151111A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pianca, Anne M., Lane, Courtney C., Makous, James C., DiGiore, Andrew, Garai, Ellis
• Granted Patent: US 9,937,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• 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 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A lead is configured and arranged for brain stimulation. The lead includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end. The distal end has a non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape and includes a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end. A plurality of conductive wires electrically couple at least one of the plurality of electrodes to at least one of the plurality of terminals.

Claims

1. A lead configured and arranged for brain stimulation, the lead comprising:

a proximal end comprising a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end;

a distal end comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end, wherein the distal end defines an outer surface and a hollow interior region that is open at the distal end, the hollow interior region having a longitudinal length and an inner surface lining the hollow interior region; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end has a circular transverse cross-sectional shape.

3. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end further comprises at least one slit defined along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the hollow interior region, wherein the hollow interior region is open along the slit.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrodes are disposed on the inner surface of the hollow interior region.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed on the outer surface of the distal end.

6. The lead of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is disposed on the inner surface of the hollow interior region and at least one of the plurality of electrodes is disposed on the outer surface of the distal end.

7. The lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a first set of electrodes disposed on the inner surface of the hollow interior region and a second set of electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the distal end.

8. The lead of claim 7, wherein the first and second sets of electrodes are each arranged in a linear arrangement.

9. The lead of claim 7, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are arranged in different arrangements.

10. The lead of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second sets of electrodes is arranged in a zigzag arrangement.

11. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the lead has a C-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape.

12. A method for stimulating patient brain tissue, the method comprising:

implanting a lead into a brain of a patient, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed along a distal end, the distal end having a non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape, the plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to a plurality of terminals disposed along a proximal end with a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of terminals to the plurality of electrodes;

disposing the proximal end of the lead into a connector, the connector configured and arranged for receiving the proximal end of the lead, the connector comprising a plurality of connective contacts that electrically couple to the plurality of terminals, the connector electrically coupled to a control module; and

providing electrical signals from the control module to electrically stimulate patient tissue using at least one of the plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead.

13. A lead configured and arranged for brain stimulation, the lead comprising:

a proximal end comprising a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end;

a distal end having a central core and at least three arms extending from the central core and equally spaced around the central core, wherein each arm has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the plurality of arms comprises an adjacent pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first side of the first arm and the second side of the second arm both face a region between the first and second arms;

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead and comprising a first set of electrodes disposed solely on the first side of the first arm and extending linearly along the first side of the first arm parallel to the central core and a second set of electrodes disposed solely on the second side of the second arm and extending linearly along the second side of the second arm parallel to the central core; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals.

14. The lead of claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms is exactly four arms arranged in a cruciform shape.

15. The lead of claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms is exactly three arms equally spaced around the central core.

16. The lead of claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms comprises at least three arms equally spaced around the central core.

17. The lead of claim 13, wherein at least one of the electrodes is disposed on the second side of the first arm.

18. The lead of claim 13, wherein at least one of the electrodes is disposed on the first side of the second arm.

19. The lead of claim 13, wherein the first side of the first arm defines a first edge that extends along, and is attached to, the central core, wherein the first set of electrodes extend linearly parallel to the first edge.

20. The lead of claim 19, wherein the second side of the second arm defines a second edge that extends along, and is attached to, the central core, wherein the second set of electrodes extend linearly parallel to the second edge.