Spinal cord stimulation lead

• US 6,236,892 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Claudio A. Feler
• Inventors: Feler, Claudio A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/414,410
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/117, 607/116, 607/115
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

The present invention relates to an epidural laminotomy stimulation lead having at least first and second electrode arrays. To enable a greater effective stimulation length, the longitudinal spacing between the various electrode arrays is greater than a smallest regular longitudinal spacing between electrodes of the electrode arrays.

Claims

1. A stimulation lead comprising:

a body;

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of electrodes, carried by the body; and

a plurality of conductors, wherein a conductor electrically couples one terminal with a respective electrode,

wherein the plurality of electrodes form a first electrode group and a second electrode group, and the first electrode group is longitudinally spaced apart from the second electrode group by a first distance,

wherein the first electrode group includes at least three electrodes arranged in a longitudinally-oriented column, and the at least three electrodes are individually separated by a second distance,

wherein the second electrode group includes at least three electrodes arranged in a longitudinally-oriented column, and the at least three electrodes are individually separated by a third distance, and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and the third distance is at least equal to the second distance.

2. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second distance and the third distance are approximately equal.

3. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second distance is approximately 2 mm.

4. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first distance is at least three times the second distance.

5. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second electrode group includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in at least two longitudinal columns, and each column of the second electrode group includes at least two electrodes.

6. A stimulation lead comprising:

a body having a first surface;

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of electrodes, carried by the body; and

a plurality of conductors, wherein a conductor electrically couples one terminal with a respective electrode,

wherein the plurality of electrodes consists of a first electrode group and a second electrode group, and the first electrode group is longitudinally spaced apart from the second electrode group by a first distance,

wherein the first electrode group includes at least two electrodes arranged in a longitudinally-oriented column, and the at least two electrodes are individually separated by a second distance,

wherein the second electrode group includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in at least two longitudinally-oriented columns, and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

7. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first distance is at least three times the second distance.

8. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 6, wherein the second distance is approximately 2 mm.

9. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the second group is arranged in three longitudinal columns, one such column, positioned between a first electrode column and a third electrode column, has at least two independent electrodes that are electrically coupled to respective terminals of the plurality of terminals via individual conductors of the plurality of conductors, each of the at least two independent electrodes having a single conductive surface relative to the first surface of the body,

wherein the first column includes one electrode electrically coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals via an individual conductor of the plurality of conductors, such one electrode having a plurality of conductive surfaces relative to the first surface of the body, and

wherein the third column includes one electrode electrically coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals via an individual conductor of the plurality of conductors, such one electrode having a plurality of conductive surfaces relative to the first surface of the body.

10. A stimulation lead comprising:

a body;

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of electrodes, carried by the body; and

a plurality of conductors, wherein a conductor electrically couples one terminal with a respective electrode,

wherein the plurality of electrodes consists of a first electrode group and a second electrode group, and the first electrode group is longitudinally spaced apart from the second electrode group by a first distance,

wherein the first electrode group includes at least three electrodes arranged in a longitudinally-oriented column, and the at least three electrodes are individually separated by a second distance,

wherein the second electrode group includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in three longitudinally-oriented columns, and at least one of such columns of the second electrode group includes at least three electrodes, and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

11. A stimulation lead comprising:

a body having a first surface;

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of electrodes carried by the body; and

a plurality of conductors,

wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrodes is arranged in three longitudinal columns, one such column, positioned between a first electrode column and a third electrode column, has at least two independent electrodes that are electrically coupled to respective terminals of the plurality of terminals via individual conductors of the plurality of conductors, each of the at least two independent electrodes having a single conductive surface relative to the first surface of the body,

wherein the first column includes one electrode electrically coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals via an individual conductor of the plurality of conductors, such one electrode having a plurality of conductive surfaces relative to the first surface of the body, and

wherein the third column includes one electrode electrically coupled to a terminal of the plurality of terminals via an individual conductor of the plurality of conductors, such one electrode having a plurality of conductive surfaces relative to the first surface of the body.

12. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 11, wherein the portion of electrodes is a first electrode group and a remaining portion of the plurality of electrodes forms a second electrode group, the first electrode group being longitudinally spaced apart from the second electrode group by a first distance,

wherein the second electrode group includes at least three electrodes arranged in a longitudinally-oriented column, and the at least three electrodes are individually separated by a second distance, and

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

13. A stimulation lead in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second distance is approximately 2 mm.