Implantable lead construction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for constructing an implantable lead, comprising:
- positioning a first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over a coiled conductor member having an insulator coating;
providing a short annular sheath over said coiled conductor member, said short annular sheath being radially recessed with respect to and axially extending beyond said first insulating sheath section;
uncoiling a length of said coiled conductor member and removing a portion of its insulator coating to form a free conductor length having an uninsulated portion;
wrapping at least a portion of said free conductor length generally around at least a portion of said short annular sheath;
engaging an electrode member into electrical communication with said uninsulated portion of said free conductor length;
butting together said electrode member and said first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath until one axial face of said electrode member engages an axial face of said first section of insulating polymeric sheath; and
sliding a second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over said coiled conductor member and butting together said electrode member and said second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath until another axial face of said electrode member engages an axial face of said second section of insulating polymeric sheath.
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Abstract
A method is provided for constructing a mechanically strong and fluid tight assembly of an electrode along the length of an implantable lead, such as those leads suitable for cardiac pacing and diagnosis and the like. In the preferred embodiment, a short annular sheath polymeric tube is closely positioned over a coiled insulated conductor, an electrode is positioned over the short annular sheath, and a section of the insulating sheath of the lead is positioned over a flange of the electrode and sealed to a shape that is substantially isodiametric with the electrode surface.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for constructing an implantable lead, comprising:
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positioning a first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over a coiled conductor member having an insulator coating; providing a short annular sheath over said coiled conductor member, said short annular sheath being radially recessed with respect to and axially extending beyond said first insulating sheath section; uncoiling a length of said coiled conductor member and removing a portion of its insulator coating to form a free conductor length having an uninsulated portion; wrapping at least a portion of said free conductor length generally around at least a portion of said short annular sheath; engaging an electrode member into electrical communication with said uninsulated portion of said free conductor length; butting together said electrode member and said first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath until one axial face of said electrode member engages an axial face of said first section of insulating polymeric sheath; and sliding a second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over said coiled conductor member and butting together said electrode member and said second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath until another axial face of said electrode member engages an axial face of said second section of insulating polymeric sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for constructing an implantable lead, comprising:
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positioning a first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over a coiled conductor member having an insulator coating; locating a short annular sheath polymeric tube over said coiled conductor member, said short annular sheath polymeric tube having an outside diameter less than that of said first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath; moving onto said coiled conductor member an electrode member having an electrode surface and an axially directed flange that is radially recessed with respect to the electrode surface, said electrode member having an axial bore with an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of said short annular sheath polymeric tube, and said axially directed flange having an outside diameter no greater than the greatest inside diameter of the first section of flexible insulating sheath; imparting relative sliding movement between said electrode member and said short annular sheath polymeric tube; uncoiling a length of said coiled conductor member and removing a portion of its insulation to form a free conductor length having an uninsulated portion; wrapping at least a portion of said free conductor length generally around at least a portion of said electrode flange; sliding an end portion of said first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over said wrapped conductor length and heat-reforming said end portion of the first section until same is secured to and is substantially isodiametric with the remainder of said first section and with the electrode surface of the electrode member; and sliding a second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over said coiled conductor member and butting together said electrode member and said second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for constructing an implantable lead, comprising:
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selecting a length of multifilar coil having a plurality of coaxially wound coil conductors alternately interwound with each other, each said conductor being insulated; positioning a first section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over a length of said multifilar coil; forming an annular, radially recessed step at an end of said first sheath section; uncoiling a length of one of said coil conductors and removing at least a portion of its insulation to form a free conductor length; wrapping said free conductor length generally around said annular, radially recessed step; assembling an electrode member over said annular, radially recessed step and over said wrapped conductor length until said electrode member substantially covers at least said uninsulated portion of the wrapped conductor length and the innermost length of said recessed step and until the leading end of the first section of insulating polymeric sheath generally butts against said electrode member; and sliding a second section of flexible insulating polymeric sheath over said multifilar coil until its leading end generally butts against said electrode member. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification