Method of making implantable lead including laser wire stripping
First Claim
1. A method for removing a first insulating layer from a portion of a first conductor that is sheathed in the first insulating layer without damaging the first conductor and removing a second insulating layer from a portion of a second conductor that is sheathed in the second insulating layer without damaging the second conductor, wherein the first and second conductors are wound coaxially so as to form an implantable lead, the method comprising applying a laser beam pulse of predetermined duration and energy to portions of each of the first and second insulating layers that are to be removed.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed by which a laser beam is used to remove or ablate the insulating coating from a desired segment of an insulated conductor without damaging or causing mechanical stress to the wire, so that the wire can be used to transmit electrical signals to an electrode in a implantable medical device. The invention can be applied to one or more conductors that are coiled coaxially and can be used to expose separate portions of two or more conductors if the insulating coatings thereon are differentiated in a way that causes the separate insulating coatings to respond differently to contact with a laser beam.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A method for removing a first insulating layer from a portion of a first conductor that is sheathed in the first insulating layer without damaging the first conductor and removing a second insulating layer from a portion of a second conductor that is sheathed in the second insulating layer without damaging the second conductor, wherein the first and second conductors are wound coaxially so as to form an implantable lead, the method comprising applying a laser beam pulse of predetermined duration and energy to portions of each of the first and second insulating layers that are to be removed.
Specification