Body implantable lead

• US 4,402,330 A
• Filed: 05/08/1981
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lindemans, Fredric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/261,718
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P, 128/639, 128/772, 128/784-788
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A lead for a body implantable electrical stimulation system including at least one electrical conductor and electrical insulation which together define a flexible lead body. A stiffening system, in the form of a member coiled about a portion of the lead body, is provided to enhance the ability of that lead body portion to maintain its orientation in the presence of external forces, including forces imparted to the lead by movement of the body as well as gravity. Preferably, the coiled member is a multifilar member and, in a preferred embodiment, is a close wound trifilar member. The desired lead body orientation may be a straight or curved configuration and, in the latter instance, the lead body may be provided with a lumen such that the curve is extended or straightened on insertion of a stylet of sufficient stiffness. A body compatible material may overlie the coiled member to provide a smooth exterior surface at the stiffened lead body portion and, in a preferred embodiment, extends beyond the lead body portion to provide a stiffness transition region adjacent the coiled member.

Claims

1. In a lead for a body implantable electrical stimulation system of the type having electrical conducting means and means electrically insulating said conducting means, said conducting and insulating means defining a flexible lead body, the improvement which comprises non-conducting, multifilar means coiled about a portion of said lead body for imparting a resilient orientation maintaining stiffness to said lead body portion and means overlying said coiled means to provide a smooth exterior surface at said lead body portion, said overlying means comprising means extending beyond said lead body portion and coiled means for providing a stiffness transition region adjacent said lead body portion.

2. The lead of claim 1 wherein said coiled means comprises close wound trifilar means.

3. The lead of claim 1 wherein said coiled means comprises means formed in a desired configuration to maintain said lead body portion in said configuration.

4. The lead of claim 1 wherein said desired configuration is an extendable curve, said lead body being provided with a stylet lumen and said curve being extendable on insertion of a stylet in said lumen.

5. The lead of claim 4 wherein said coiled means comprises close wound trifilar means.

6. The lead of claim 1 wherein said insulating means comprises molded means, said molded means establishing said curve at said lead body portion.

7. The lead of claim 1 wherein said insulating means comprises preformed tubular means.