ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEM WITH TOOL-LESS LEAD EXTENSION AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING

• US 20160158558A1
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Shanahan, Christopher, Villarta, Geoffrey Abellana
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

A lead extension at least one lead extension body; terminals disposed along one end portion of the lead extension body(ies); a lead extension connector disposed along another end portion of the lead extension body(ies); and conductors electrically coupling the connector contacts in the lead extension connector to the terminals. The lead extension connector can include lead channels with non-straight paths to facilitate retention of leads. Alternatively, the lead extension connector can include one or more stretchable boots to each receive a lead when stretched and to grip the lead when relaxed. Alternatively, the lead extension connector can have two connector bodies with a pin channel and pin, respectively. When the pin is inserted into the pin channel, the pin compresses a portion of the connector body against the lead to retain the lead within the connector.

Claims

1. A lead extension for electrically coupling to at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension comprising:

at least one lead extension body having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion;

a plurality of terminals disposed along the first end portion of the at least one lead extension body;

a lead extension connector disposed along the second end portion of the lead extension body, the lead extension connector configured and arranged to mechanically receive a proximal end portion of at least one electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension connector comprising

a connector body,

at least one lead channel defined within the connector body and configured and arranged to receive the at least one electrical stimulation lead, wherein the at least one lead channel forms a non-straight path within the connector body so that, when the at least one electrical stimulation lead is received within the at least one lead channel, the at least one lead channel defines points of compression that facilitate retention of the at least one electrical stimulation lead within the lead extension connector, and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed within the connector body and configured and arranged to make electrical contact with terminals disposed on the at least one electrical stimulation lead when the at least one electrical stimulation lead is received in the at least one lead channel; and

a plurality of conductors extending along the at least one lead extension body and electrically coupling the connector contacts in the lead extension connector to the terminals.

2. The lead extension of claim 1, wherein the at least one lead channel is two lead channels, wherein each lead channel is configured and arranged to receive an electrical stimulation lead.

3. The lead extension of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one lead channel comprises at least two curves.

4. The lead extension of claim 3, wherein the at least two curves comprise a first curve and a second curve in a direction opposite the first curve.

5. An electrical stimulation system, comprising:

the lead extension of claim 1; and

at least one electrical stimulation lead, each electrical stimulation lead having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead,

a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals,

wherein the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead is insertable into the connector body of the lead extension.

6. The electrical stimulation system of claim 5, further comprising a control module configured and arranged to receive the first end portion of the lead extension and electrically couple to the terminals of the lead extension.

7. A method of coupling an electrical stimulation lead to the lead extension of claim 1, the method comprising:

bending a portion of the connector body of the lead extension;

advancing a proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead into a one of the at least one lead channel of the lead extension so that a plurality of terminals of the electrical stimulation lead make electrical contact with the connector contacts of the lead extension; and

inserting a second portion of the electrical stimulation lead into a non-straight section of the lead channel, wherein when the connector body is no longer bent, the non-straight section of the lead channel forms one or more points of compression against the second portion of the electrical stimulation lead to retain the electrical stimulation lead within the lead extension connector.

8. A lead extension for electrically coupling to at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension comprising:

at least one lead extension body having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion;

a plurality of terminals disposed along the first end portion of the at least one lead extension body;

a lead extension connector disposed along the second end portion of the lead extension body, the lead extension connector configured and arranged to mechanically receive a proximal end portion of at least one electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension connector comprising

a connector body,

at least one boot coupled to the connector body, wherein each of the at least one boot is stretchable between a relaxed position and a stretched position,

at least one lead channel defined within the connector body, each of the at least one lead channel extending through a one of the at least one boot, wherein each of the at least one lead channel is configured and arranged to receive the at least one electrical stimulation lead, and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed within the connector body and configured and arranged to make electrical contact with terminals disposed on the at least one electrical stimulation lead when the at least one electrical stimulation lead is received in the at least one lead channel; and

a plurality of conductors extending along the at least one lead extension body and electrically coupling the connector contacts in the lead extension connector to the terminals.

9. The lead extension of claim 8, wherein the at least one boot is two boots and the at least one lead channel is two lead channels, wherein each lead channel is configured and arranged to receive an electrical stimulation lead.

10. The lead extension of claim 8, wherein each of the at least one boot comprises a series of ridges and valleys.

11. The lead extension of claim 10, wherein each is boot is configured and arranged to permit loading an electrical stimulation lead into the lead extension connector when the boot is in the stretched position and to grip the electrical stimulation lead when the boot is in the relaxed position.

12. An electrical stimulation system, comprising:

the lead extension of claim 8; and

at least one electrical stimulation lead, each electrical stimulation lead having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead,

a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals,

wherein the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead is insertable into the connector body of the lead extension.

13. The electrical stimulation system of claim 12, further comprising a control module configured and arranged to receive the first end portion of the lead extension and electrically couple to the terminals of the lead extension.

14. A method of coupling an electrical stimulation lead to the lead extension of claim 8, the method comprising:

stretching a one of the at least one boot of the lead extension connector into the stretched position;

advancing a proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead into the lead channel so that a plurality of terminals of the electrical stimulation lead make electrical contact with the connector contacts of the lead extension; and

returning the one of the at least one boot of the lead extension to the relaxed position, wherein when the one of the least one boot of the lead extension is in the relaxed position, the one of the at least one boot forms a friction or compression fit with the electrical stimulation lead to retain the electrical stimulation lead within the lead extension connector.

15. A lead extension for electrically coupling to at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension comprising:

at least one lead extension body having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion;

a plurality of terminals disposed along the first end portion of the at least one lead extension body;

a lead extension connector disposed along the second end portion of the lead extension body, the lead extension connector configured and arranged to mechanically receive a proximal end portion of at least one electrical stimulation lead, the lead extension connector comprising

a first connector body defining a pin channel,

a second connector body comprising a pin, wherein a dimension of the pin is greater than a corresponding dimension of the pin channel,

at least one lead channel defined within the first and second connector bodies and configured and arranged to receive the at least one electrical stimulation lead, and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed within the first connector body and configured and arranged to make electrical contact with terminals disposed on the at least one electrical stimulation lead when the at least one electrical stimulation lead is received in the at least one lead channel,

wherein the pin channel is configured and arranged to receive the pin and, when the pin is received in the pin channel, compress a portion of the first connector body against the at least one electrical stimulation lead in the at least one lead channel to facilitate retention of the at least one electrical stimulation lead within the at least one lead channel; and

a plurality of conductors extending along the at least one lead extension body and electrically coupling the connector contacts in the lead extension connector to the terminals.

16. The lead extension of claim 15, wherein the at least one lead channel is two lead channels, wherein each lead channel is configured and arranged to receive an electrical stimulation lead.

17. The lead extension of claim 15, wherein the pin comprises a first pin portion and a second pin portion attached to the first pin portion and having sloping sides, wherein the pin channel comprises a first channel portion and a second channel portion adjacent the first channel portion, wherein a dimension of the second pin portion is greater than a corresponding dimension of the second channel portion.

18. An electrical stimulation system, comprising:

the lead extension of claim 15; and

at least one electrical stimulation lead, each electrical stimulation lead having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead,

a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead, and

a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals,

wherein the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead is insertable into the connector body of the lead extension.

19. The electrical stimulation system of claim 18, further comprising a control module configured and arranged to receive the first end portion of the lead extension and electrically couple to the terminals of the lead extension.

20. A method of coupling an electrical stimulation lead to the lead extension of claim 15, the method comprising:

inserting the electrical stimulation lead in the lead channel defined through both the first and second connector bodies with the first and second connector bodies separated; and

advancing the pin of the second connector body into the pin channel of the first connector body causing the portion of the first connector body to compress against the at least one electrical stimulation lead in the at least one lead channel to facilitate retention of the at least one electrical stimulation lead within the at least one lead channel.