DIRECTIONAL LEAD ASSEMBLY

• US 20150290452A1
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntElect Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IntElect Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kokones, Scott, Swoyer, John, Geroy, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes

Abstract

Leads having directional electrodes thereon. Also provided are leads having directional electrodes as well as anchoring prongs to secure the electrodes to the leads. Also provided are leads with directional electrodes where all the electrodes have the same surface area. Methods of treating conditions and selectively stimulating regions of the brain such as the thalamus and cerebellum are also provided.

Claims

1. An electrical lead comprising:

a cylindrical lead body having a circumference, a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

a plurality of directional electrodes disposed along the distal end of the cylindrical lead body, wherein each of the directional electrodes comprises an electrode body that defines an exposed surface and at least one prong disposed within the lead and radially beneath the electrode body; and

at least one ring electrode disposed along the distal end of the cylindrical lead body and extending around the circumference of the cylindrical lead body.

2. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of directional electrodes are disposed to form a spiral along the cylindrical lead body.

3. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of directional electrodes is arranged into a plurality of sets of directional electrodes with each set comprising a plurality of the directional electrodes disposed around the circumference of the cylindrical lead body at a same position along the longitudinal axis.

4. The electrical lead of claim 1 wherein, for each of the sets of directional electrodes, each of the plurality of directional electrodes of that set is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of directional electrodes of that set by 30°

to 180°

.

5. The electrical lead of claim 1, further comprising at least one distalmost electrode covering the distal end of the cylindrical lead body.

6. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one ring electrode is proximal to the plurality of directional electrodes.

7. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one prong of each of the directional electrodes is configured and arranged to anchor the directional electrode to the cylindrical lead body.

8. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein each directional electrode spans 90°

to 150°

of the circumference of the lead body.

9. The electrical lead of claim 1, wherein the at least one prong of at least one of the directional electrodes comprises two prongs, separated from each other and disposed within the lead and radially beneath the electrode body.

10. An electrical lead comprising:

a cylindrical lead body having a circumference, a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;

a plurality of directional electrodes disposed along the distal end of the cylindrical lead body, wherein the plurality of directional electrodes is arranged into a plurality of sets of directional electrodes with each set comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed around the circumference of the cylindrical lead body at a same position along the longitudinal axis;

at least one anchoring prong attached to each directional electrode of the plurality of directional electrodes to anchor the directional electrode to the cylindrical lead body; and

at least one distalmost electrode covering the distal end of the cylindrical lead body.

11. The electrical lead of claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least one anchoring prong attached to each directional electrode is disposed radially beneath the directional electrode to which it is attached.

12. The electrical lead of claim 10, wherein the at least one anchoring prong attached to each directional electrode comprises two anchoring prongs attached to each directional electrode, separated from each other and disposed radially beneath the directional electrode to which the two anchoring prongs are attached.

13. The electrical lead of claim 10, further comprising at least one ring electrode extending around the circumference of the cylindrical lead body.

14. The electrical lead of claim 13, wherein the at least one ring electrode is proximal to the plurality of directional electrodes.

15. The electrical lead of claim 10, wherein each directional electrode spans 90°

to 150°

of a circumference of the lead body.

16. The electrical lead of claim 10, wherein, for each of the sets of directional electrodes, each of the plurality of directional electrodes of that set is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of directional electrodes of that set by 30°

to 180°

.

17. An electrical lead comprising:

a cylindrical lead body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; and

a plurality of directional electrodes disposed along the distal end of the cylindrical lead body; and

at least one anchoring prong attached to or otherwise integral with each directional electrode of the plurality of directional electrodes to anchor the directional electrode to the cylindrical lead body.

18. The electrical lead of claim 17, wherein the plurality of directional electrodes are disposed to form a spiral along the cylindrical lead body.

19. The electrical lead of claim 17, wherein the plurality of directional electrodes is arranged into a plurality of sets of directional electrodes with each set comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed around the circumference of the cylindrical lead body at a same position along the longitudinal axis.

20. The electrical lead of claim 17, wherein at least one of the at least one anchoring prong attached to each directional electrode is disposed radially beneath the directional electrode to which it is attached.