Interconnection technique between a cable conductor and an electrode of an implantable medical device

• US 6,366,820 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Doan, Phong D., Safarevich, Sergey, Schimke, Kerwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza, Frances P.
• Application Number:
  US09/516,622
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 298/25, 174/68.1, 600/372, 600/373, 600/374, 600/377, 600/378, 600/379, 600/394, 607/2, 607/4, 607/5, 607/9, 607/36, 607/37, 607/115, 607/116, 607/117, 607/118, 607/119, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/122
• 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 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A method of joining an electrically-conductive elongate member, which may be a multi-strand cable, to an electrically-conductive electrode, possibly for an implantable medical device, requires that the free end of the electrically-conductive member be inserted axially into a longitudinally extending passage of a tubular crimp/weld sleeve. Thereupon, the crimp/weld sleeve is crimped onto the electrically-conductive elongate member to achieve firm engagement between the crimp/weld sleeve and the electrically-conductive elongate member. The crimp/weld sleeve is provided with a radially outward extending prominent member which may be one of a variety of shapes. The electrode is tubular, overlies the outer surface of a longitudinally extending lead body, and is formed with an aperture defined by a rim having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the prominent member. The crimp/weld sleeve is received in a recess adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the lead body and the prominent member is inserted into the aperture of the tubular electrode. A laser beam is directed transversely through the aperture of the electrode and onto the prominent member to simultaneously melt the prominent member and the electrode in the region of the aperture and create a mixture of the molten material of both the prominent member and the electrode within the aperture. When operation of the laser beam ceases, a welded connection between the crimp/weld sleeve and the electrode is achieved.

Claims

1. A method of joining an electrically-conductive elongate member to an electrically-conductive termination component comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an elongated crimp/weld sleeve having a longitudinally extending passage for axially receiving the electrically-conductive elongate member;

(b) inserting a free end of the electrically-conductive elongate member into the passage of the crimp/weld sleeve;

(c) crimping the crimp/weld sleeve onto the elongate member to achieve firm engagement between the crimp/weld sleeve and the elongate member;

(d) forming a radially outward extending prominent member on the crimp/weld sleeve;

(e) forming in the termination component an aperture defined by a rim having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the prominent member;

(f) inserting the prominent member into the aperture of the termination component;

(g) directing a laser beam transversely of the termination component through the aperture therein and onto the prominent member to simultaneously melt the prominent member and the termination component in the region of the aperture and create a mixture of the molten material of both the prominent member and the termination component within the aperture; and

(h) discontinuing operation of the laser beam to allow solidification of the mixture of the molten material of step (f) within the aperture to thereby achieve a welded connection between the crimp/weld sleeve and the termination component.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the electrically-conductive elongate member includes a lead comprised of a multi-strand cable, each with a free end; and

wherein

step (b) includes the step of inserting each free end of the multi-strand cable into the passage of the crimp/weld sleeve.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein step (e) includes the step of forming the aperture large enough to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough yet small enough to allow the simultaneous melting of the rim of the aperture and the termination component.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the termination component is a tubular member having an inner peripheral surface proximately received on a lead body; and

wherein

step (a) includes the step of positioning the crimp/weld sleeve within the tubular member such that the longitudinal axis of the crimp/weld sleeve is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

5. An implantable stimulation device comprising:

an electrically-conductive elongate member having a free end;

an elongated crimp/weld sleeve having a longitudinally extending passage for axially receiving the free end of the electrically-conductive elongate member, the crimp/weld sleeve being crimped into firm engagement with the elongate member;

a radially outward extending prominent member on the crimp/weld sleeve;

an electrically-conductive termination component having an aperture defined by a rim having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the prominent member; and

wherein

the prominent member being inserted into the aperture of the termination component such that a laser beam directed transversely of the termination component through the aperture therein impinges on the prominent member to simultaneously melt the prominent member and the termination component in the region of the aperture and create a mixture of the molten material of both the prominent member and the termination component within the aperture which, when solidified, achieves a welded connection between the crimp/weld sleeve and the termination component.

6. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the electrically-conductive elongate member includes a lead comprised of a multi-strand cable, each with a free end received into the passage of the crimp/weld sleeve, the crimp/weld sleeve being crimped into firm engagement with each strand of the multi-strand cable.

7. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the aperture in the termination component is large enough to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough yet small enough to allow the simultaneous melting of the rim of the aperture and the termination component.

8. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

the termination component is a tubular member having an inner peripheral surface proximately received on a lead body; and

wherein

the crimp/weld sleeve is positioned within the tubular member such that the longitudinal axis of the crimp/weld sleeve is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

9. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the prominent member is a radially outward extending cylindrical post.

10. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

the crimp/weld sleeve includes first and second opposed ends; and

wherein

a pair of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart cuts through the crimp/weld sleeve define a tab member which, when bent about a transverse fold line, projects radially outward from the crimp/weld sleeve.

11. The implantable stimulation device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the crimp/weld sleeve includes:

first and second opposed ends;

an outer peripheral surface;

a peripheral flange lying in a plane extending transverse of the longitudinally extending passage axis and projecting radially outward beyond the outer peripheral surface therein; and

wherein

the termination component has a transversely extending slot for freely receiving a portion of the peripheral flange therein.

12. A lead for an implantable stimulation device comprising:

a longitudinally extending lead body having an outer peripheral surface, at least one longitudinally extending lumen, and a recess adjacent the outer peripheral surface and in communication with the lumen;

an electrically-conductive elongate member having a free end received in the longitudinally extending lumen;

an elongated crimp/weld sleeve having a longitudinally extending passage for axially receiving the free end of the electrically-conductive elongate member, the crimp/weld sleeve being crimped into firm engagement with the elongate member;

a radially outward extending prominent member on the crimp/weld sleeve; and

an electrically-conductive termination component having an aperture defined by a rim having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the prominent member; and

wherein

the prominent member is adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the termination component such that a laser beam directed transversely of the termination component through the aperture therein impinges on the prominent member to simultaneously melt the prominent member and the termination component in the region of the aperture and create a mixture of the molten material of both the prominent member and the termination component within the aperture which, when solidified, achieves a welded connection between the crimp/weld sleeve and the termination component.

13. The lead of claim 12 wherein the electrically-conductive elongate member includes a lead comprised of a multi-strand cable, each with a free end received into the passage of the crimp/weld sleeve, the crimp/weld sleeve being crimped into firm engagement with each strand of the multi-strand cable.

14. The lead of claim 12 wherein the aperture in the termination component is large enough to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough yet small enough to allow the melting of the rim of the aperture and the termination component simultaneously.

15. The lead of claim 12 wherein:

the termination component is a tubular member having an inner peripheral surface proximately received on a lead body; and

wherein

the crimp/weld sleeve is positioned within the tubular member such that the longitudinal axis of the crimp/weld sleeve is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

16. The lead of claim 12 wherein the prominent member is a radially outward extending cylindrical post.

17. The lead of claim 12 wherein:

the crimp/weld sleeve includes first and second opposed ends; and

wherein

a pair of longitudinally-extending spaced-apart cuts through the crimp/weld sleeve define a tab member which, when bent about a transverse fold line, projects radially outward from the crimp/weld sleeve.

18. The lead of claim 12 wherein the crimp/weld sleeve includes:

first and second opposed ends;

an outer peripheral surface;

a peripheral flange lying in a plane extending transverse of the longitudinally extending passage axis and projecting radially outward beyond the outer peripheral surface there; and

wherein

the termination component has a transversely extending slot for freely receiving a portion of the peripheral flange therein.