Lead having composite tubing

• US 6,701,191 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Schell, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/870,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116-138, 600/373, 504/527
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A lead assembly includes a flexible lead body which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body includes one or more conductors. The lead assembly further includes an electrode assembly, and at least one coating of insulative material coated directly on at least one conductor.

Claims

1. A lead assembly comprising:

a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including one or more conductors disposed therein;

the lead body including an outer coating of composite insulative material;

an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with at least one conductor;

the outer coating of composite insulative material coated directly on at least one conductor; and

wherein the one or more conductors includes a first conductor disposed within a second conductor, and at least one coating is coated between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a layer of insulation is disposed within the first conductor.

2. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second conductor comprises a braided conductor.

3. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first conductor comprises a braided conductor.

4. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the conductors extends from a first end to a second end and has an intermediate section therebetween, and a portion of the intermediate section has an exposed, non-coated area.

5. The lead assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising one or more electrodes electrically coupled with the exposed non-coated area.

6. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer coating of composite insulative material comprises a first coating and a second coating coated over the first coating.

7. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one coating between the first conductor and the second conductor is a composite insulative material.

8. A lead assembly comprising:

a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including one or more conductors disposed therein, the flexible lead body comprising a first coating disposed directly on a first conductor,

an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with at least one conductor;

at least one second coating of insulative material coated directly on a second conductor the second conductor disposed within the first conductor, the at least one second coating is coated between the first conductor and the second conductor, and

wherein the first conductor extends from a first end to a second end and has an intermediate section therebetween, and a portion of the intermediate section has an exposed, non-coated area between two coated areas.

9. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first conductor comprises a braided conductor.

10. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the second conductor comprises a braided conductor.

11. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising one or more electrodes mechanically coupled with the exposed non-coated area.

12. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first conductor comprises a means for extending and retracting the electrode assembly.

13. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a third coating of insulative material coated directly on the first coating of insulative material.

14. The lead assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the first coating is formed of a first material, and the third coating is formed of a second material, and the first material is different than the second material.

15. A lead assembly comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including a first conductor disposed therein,

an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with the conductor;

a first coating of insulation coated directly on the first conductor, the first coating made from a first material;

a second coating of insulation coated directly on the first coating, the second coating made from a second material;

a second conductor disposed within the first conductor;

a third coating of insulation coated directly on the second conductor, the third coating made from one material; and

a fourth coating of insulation coated directly on the third coating, the fourth coating made from another material, wherein said third and fourth coatings are disposed within said coated first conductor.

16. The lead assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein a portion of the of the first coating and the second coating are removed from the first conductor to reveal an exposed portion of the first conductor, and at least one electrode is electrically and mechanically coupled with the exposed portion of the first conductor.

17. The lead assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the second conductor is rotatable to extend and/or retract at least one electrode.

18. The lead assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the first conductor is a braided conductor and the second conductor is a braided conductor.

19. The lead assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the second coating is an outer coating of the lead body.

20. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the first coating and the second coating form a composite coating.

21. A method comprising:

providing a first conductor;

forming an outer composite lead body over the first conductor including coating composite insulative material directly on the first conductor;

coating composite insulative material directly on a second conductor;

disposing the second conductor within the first conductor such that the second conductor composite coating is disposed within said coated first conductor; and

coupling at least one electrode with the first conductor.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising braiding multiple conductors to form the first conductor.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising rotating the second conductor, to extend the at least one electrode away from the outer composite lead body.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising stripping insulative material from a portion of the first conductor, and exposing a portion of the first conductor.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising mechanically and electrically coupling an electrode to the exposed portion of the first conductor.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising braiding multiple conductors to form the second conductor.

27. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein forming the outer composite lead body includes coating a first layer of a first material directly on the first conductor, and coating a second layer of a second material directly on the first layer of first material.

28. A method comprising:

providing a first conductor for a lead, the first conductor extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;

coating the outer diameter surface of the first conductor with an insulative coating, including leaving the inner diameter surface uncoated;

providing a second conductor coaxial with the first conductor, where the first conductor has a different outer diameter than the second conductor;

coupling at least one electrode with the first conductor; and

coupling the proximal end of the first conductor with an energy source configured to stimulate tissue.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising rotating the coated first conductor, and extending the at least one electrode away from the lead.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising stripping insulative material from a portion of the first conductor, and exposing a portion of the first conductor.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising mechanically and electrically coupling an electrode to the exposed portion of the first conductor.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein coating the first conductor includes forming an outer lead body of composite insulative material.

33. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising coating an outer diameter of the second conductor with insulative material.