Implantable electrode with conductive polytetrafluoroethylene elecrode
First Claim
1. An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation, wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is in the form of a helically wrapped tape and wherein adjacent edges of the helically wrapped tape are in physical contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable electrode in the form a helically wound conductor having an electrically conductive polymeric layer coaxially surrounding and contacting the helically wound conductor, wherein the electrically conductive polymeric layer is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation. Preferably, the electrode has two conductive portions, the additional second conductive portion being preferably located at the distal tip. The implantable electrode preferably incorporates an insulating portion wherein an additional length of the helically wound conductor is continuous with the remaining length of helically wound conductor coaxially covered by the electrically conductive polymeric layer. The insulating portion has a coaxial covering of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material which is preferably silicone tubing. More preferably the coaxial covering of impermeably polymeric electrically insulating material has an additional exterior coaxial covering of porous PTFE for improved biocompatibility and flexibility. The porous PTFE is preferably porous expanded PTFE having a fibril length of less than 10 microns in order to substantially preclude tissue ingrowth and tissue attachment. The electrically conductive polymeric layer of the electrode is preferably made of porous expanded PTFE containing an electrically conductive filler, the porous expanded PTFE again having a fibril length of less than 10 microns.
241 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation, wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is in the form of a helically wrapped tape and wherein adjacent edges of the helically wrapped tape are in physical contact.
- 13. An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation and wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is secured to the first length portion of the helically wound conductor by a discontinuous, non-conductive thermoplastic adhesive.
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16. An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than that about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation:
- wherein the at least one helically wound conductor has a second length portion continuously and electrically connected to the first length portion, and further has an insulating portion wherein the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor has a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and wherein the impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material has an exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
Specification