Implantable short resistant lead

• US 6,185,463 B1
• Filed: 05/01/1997
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Baudino, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/848,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119, 607/117, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/119
• 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 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes

Abstract

The present invention is a body implantable medical lead and method for constructing the lead. The lead has at least one electrode located along the lead body that is recessed from the outer surface of the lead body. The recessed electrode helps to prevent contact between the electrode and electrodes on a different lead when the different leads are brought into contact with each other.

Claims

1. A body implantable lead comprising:

a lead body having a central axis, proximal and distal ends and a lead body outer surface, the lead body having at least one notch formed in the outer surface of the lead body;

at least one electrically conductive solid electrode spaced along the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes having an outer electrode surface, the outer surface of the electrode being located in a notch and recessed from the lead body outer surface, the electrode having a thickness;

at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body; and

at least one conductor connecting a respective one of the electrodes to a respective one of the contacts.

2. The lead of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrically conductive electrode is substantially annular.

3. The lead of claim 1 wherein the electrode is substantially cylindrically shaped.

4. The lead of claim 1 wherein the lead body has at least one recessed portion located at the distal end of the lead body, the recessed portion having a recess depth from the lead body outer surface that is greater than the thickness of the electrode, the electrode being located in the recessed portion;

whereby the electrode is recessed from the lead body outer surface.

5. The lead of claim 4 wherein the electrode is substantially cylindrically shaped and fits around the recessed portion.

6. The lead of claim 1 wherein the at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body is part of a connector block.

7. The lead body of claim 1 wherein the lead body is made of an insulating material.

8. The lead of claim 7 wherein the insulating material is chosen from the group consisting of polymers and thermoplastics.

9. The lead of claim 1 wherein the lead body has a first lumen.

10. The lead of claim 9 wherein the at least one conductor is within the first lumen.

11. The lead of claim 9 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

12. The lead of claim 9 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

13. The lead of claim 9 wherein the lead body has a second lumen.

14. The lead of claim 13 where the lead body has a third lumen.

15. The lead of claim 14 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

16. The lead of claim 15 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

17. The lead of claim 9 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

18. The lead of claim 17 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

19. The lead of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the lead is rounded.

20. A body implantable lead comprising:

a lead body having a central axis, proximal and distal ends and a lead body outer surface, the lead body having at least one recessed portion located at the distal end of the lead body, the lead body having at least one notch formed in the outer surface of the lead body;

at least one electrically conductive substantially annular solid electrode spaced along the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes having a thickness, each of the electrodes having an outer electrode surface, the outer surface of the electrode being located in a notch and recessed from the lead body outer surface;

means for providing electrical potential to at least one of the electrodes;

wherein the recessed portion in the lead body has a recess depth from the lead body outer surface that is greater than the thickness of the electrode, the electrode being located in the recessed portion;

whereby the electrode is recessed from the lead body outer surface.

21. The lead of claim 20 wherein the means for providing electrical potential to at least on of the electrodes comprises:

at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body; and

at least one conductor connecting a respective one of the electrodes to a respective one of the contacts.

22. The lead body of claim 20 wherein the lead body is made of an insulating material.

23. The lead of claim 22 wherein the insulating material is chosen from the group consisting of polymers and thermoplastics.

24. The lead of claim 20 wherein the lead body has a first lumen.

25. The lead of claim 24 wherein the means for providing electrical potential to at least on of the electrodes comprises:

at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body; and

at least one conductor connecting a respective one of the electrodes to a respective one of the contacts.

26. The lead of claim 25 wherein the at least one conductor is within the first lumen.

27. The lead of claim 24 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

28. The lead of claim 24 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

29. The lead of claim 24 wherein the lead body has a second lumen.

30. The lead of claim 29 where the lead body has a third lumen.

31. The lead of claim 30 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

32. The lead of claim 31 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

33. The lead of claim 30 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

34. The lead of claim 33 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

35. The lead of claim 20 wherein the distal end of the lead is rounded.

36. A body implantable lead comprising:

a lead body having proximal and distal ends and a lead body outer surface;

at least one electrically conductive substantially annular electrode spaced along the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes having an outer electrode surface and a discontinuity through a portion of each of the electrodes the discontinuity forming opposed surfaces on each of the electrodes at opposite ends of the discontinuity, the opposing surfaces of the electrodes abutting and being securely fixed to one another, the outer surface of the electrode being recessed from the lead body outer surface;

at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body; and

at least one conductor connecting a respective one of the electrodes to a respective one of the contacts.

37. The lead of claim 36 wherein the electrode is substantially cylindrically shaped.

38. The lead of claim 36 wherein the electrode is substantially cylindrically shaped.

39. The lead of claim 36 wherein the at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body is part of a connector block.

40. The lead body of claim 36 wherein the lead body is made of an insulating material.

41. The lead of claim 40 wherein the insulating material is chosen from the group consisting of polymers and thermoplastics.

42. The lead of claim 36 wherein the lead body has a first lumen.

43. The lead of claim 42 wherein the at least one conductor is within the first lumen.

44. The lead of claim 42 wherein the lead body has a central axis and the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

45. The lead of claim 42 wherein the lead body has a central axis and the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

46. The lead of claim 42 wherein the lead body has a second lumen.

47. The lead of claim 46 where the lead body has a third lumen.

48. The lead of claim 47 wherein lead body has a central axis, the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

49. The lead of claim 47 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

50. The lead of claim 47 wherein the lead body has a central axis, the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

51. The lead of claim 50 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

52. The lead of claim 36 wherein the distal end of the lead is rounded.

53. A body implantable lead comprising:

a lead body having a central axis, proximal and distal ends and a lead body outer surface, the lead body having at least one recessed portion located at the distal end of the lead body, the lead body being made of an insulating material, the lead body having a first lumen, the distal end of the lead being rounded, the lead body having at least one notch formed in the outer surface of the lead body;

at least one electrically conductive substantially annular solid electrode spaced along the distal end of the lead body, each of the electrodes having a thickness, each of the electrodes having an outer electrode surface, the outer surface of the electrode being located in a notch and recessed from the lead body outer surface;

at least one contact located at the proximal end of the lead body; and

at least one conductor connecting a respective one of the electrodes to a respective one of the contacts

wherein the recessed portion in the lead body has a recess depth from the lead body outer surface that is greater than the thickness of the electrode, the electrode being located in the recessed portion;

whereby the electrode is recessed from the lead body outer surface.

54. The lead of claim 53 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

55. The lead of claim 53 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body.

56. The lead of claim 53 wherein the lead body has a second lumen.

57. The lead of claim 56 where the lead body has a third lumen.

58. The lead of claim 57 wherein the first lumen is coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

59. The lead of claim 58 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.

60. The lead of claim 57 wherein the first lumen is not coaxial with the central axis of the lead body and the second and third lumens are located on opposite sides of the first lumen.

61. The lead of claim 60 wherein the second and third lumens are arcuate shaped.