Reduced diameter, low resistance medical electrical lead

• US 6,721,604 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Micronet Medical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wessman, Bradley J., Robinson, Paul J., Schrom, Mark Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/626,631
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/119, 607/122-129, 600/373-381
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides an implantable electrical lead having a reduced diameter and a relatively low resistance. The lead includes a lead body having at least one conductor manufactured from drawn-filled-tubing and having an elongated cross-sectional shape to confer a high cross-sectional area relative to the conductors thickness. The lead body insulates the conductor from contact with the patient and in the case of a plurality of conductors isolates the conductors from one another. The lead body may also include a lumen extending from the lead body'"'"'s proximal to distal ends.

Claims

1. A reduced-diameter low-resistance lead body for a medical lead, comprising:

an insulator; and

at least one low-profile drawn-filled-tubing conductor including an outer casing and a core material, the conductor having a crescent shaped cross-section.

2. A lead body, as in claim 1, wherein the at least one low profile drawn-filled-tube conductor is spirally wound within the insulator.

3. A lead body, as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of low profile drawn-filled-tube conductors spirally wound within the insulator.

4. A lead body, as in claim 1, wherein the outer casing is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, MP35N, titanium, and elgiloy.

5. A lead body, as in claim 1, wherein the core material includes a conductive metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, tungsten, tantalum and copper.

6. A lead body, as in claim 1, further comprising at least one lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the lead body.

7. A reduced-diameter low-resistance lead body for a medical lead, comprising:

an insulator; and

at least conductor having a crescent shaped cross-section.

8. A lead body, as in claim 7, wherein the conductor comprises a drawn-filled tubing conductor having an outer casing and a core material.

9. A lead body, as in claim 8, wherein the at least one drawn-filled-tube conductor is spirally wound within the insulator.

10. A lead body, as in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of drawn-filled-tube conductors each having an elongated cross-sectional shape and spirally wound within the insulator.

11. A lead body, as in claim 8, wherein the outer casing is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, MP35N, titanium, and elgiloy.

12. A lead body, as in claim 8, wherein the core material comprises a conductive metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, tungsten, tantalum and copper.

13. A lead body, as in claim 8, further comprising at least one lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the lead body.

14. A lead body for a medical lead, comprising:

an insulator;

a first conductor having a crescent cross-sectional shape; and

a second conductor electrically isolated from the first conductor and having a crescent cross-sectional shape.

15. A lead body, as in claim 14, wherein the first conductor and second conductor are spirally wound within the insulator.

16. A lead body, as in claim 14, wherein the first conductor and second conductor are drawn-filled-tube conductors each having an outer casing and a core material.

17. A lead body, as in claim 16, wherein the outer casing is comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, MP35N, titanium, and elgiloy.

18. A lead body, as in claim 16, wherein the core material comprises a conductive metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum, tungsten, tantalum and copper.