Implantable lead
First Claim
1. An elongate flexible, electrically conductive neural stimulator lead including an electrical conductor for implantation in the spinal column of a patient and having leading and trailing ends, a non-conductive coating covering said conductor, and an electrode electrically connected to the conductor at one end thereof with at least a portion of said electrode being in electrical communication with the exterior of said coating to define an electrical contact region, wherein the improvement in said lead comprises:
- said leading and trailing ends each being of substantially uniform diameter;
said contact region being located substantially intermediate said leading and trailing ends of said lead such that each of said leading and trailing ends is sufficiently long as to percutaneously exit the body at spaced locations therein when said contact region is positioned within the spinal column of a patient during implantation; and
means adjacent said contact region for stabilizing said lead within the spinal column with the contact region within the spinal column and the leading and trailing ends percutaneously exiting the body.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable neural stimulator lead for introduction to and fixation in the epidural space of a patient includes an electrical conductor coated with a non-conductive coating and having a contact region thereon including an electrode for stimulating the patient'"'"'s spinal cord through the dura. The contact region is located substantially intermediate the distal ends of the lead, whereby the lead may be installed and fixed in the epidural space by manipulation of both ends of the lead. A second surrogate lead is also provided for coupling to an end of the stimulator lead to enable the stimulator lead to be pulled into a position in the patient'"'"'s body where stimulation is to be effected. One end of the surrogate lead includes a groove to facilitate snaring with a looped snare.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An elongate flexible, electrically conductive neural stimulator lead including an electrical conductor for implantation in the spinal column of a patient and having leading and trailing ends, a non-conductive coating covering said conductor, and an electrode electrically connected to the conductor at one end thereof with at least a portion of said electrode being in electrical communication with the exterior of said coating to define an electrical contact region, wherein the improvement in said lead comprises:
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said leading and trailing ends each being of substantially uniform diameter; said contact region being located substantially intermediate said leading and trailing ends of said lead such that each of said leading and trailing ends is sufficiently long as to percutaneously exit the body at spaced locations therein when said contact region is positioned within the spinal column of a patient during implantation; and means adjacent said contact region for stabilizing said lead within the spinal column with the contact region within the spinal column and the leading and trailing ends percutaneously exiting the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combination for the introduction of a neural stimulator lead in the spinal column of a patient, comprising:
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an electrically conductive stimulator lead having leading and trailing ends including a non-conductive coating and a conductor covered thereby, and an electrode in said stimulator lead electrically connected to said conductor, said electrode being in electrical communication with the exterior of said coating to define an electrical contact region, said leading and trailing ends being configured to percutaneously exit the body at spaced locations therein during implantation; means adjacent said contact region for stabilizing said lead within the spinal column; an elongate flexible lead; and coupling means for coupling one of said ends of said stimulator lead with an end of said flexible lead to enable said stimulator lead to be pulled into a position in the patient'"'"'s spinal column where stimulation is to be effected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification