Neurostimulating lead
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of fabricating a medical lead, comprising:
- providing a body member having a wall, a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion, and having a first conductor and a second conductor embedded within the wall and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, the first and second conductors each spaced about the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the body member;
forming a first opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor;
forming a second opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor;
forming a third opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the second conductor;
forming a first conductive link in the first opening electrically connected to the first conductor;
forming a second conductive link in the second opening electrically connected to the first conductor;
forming a third conductive link in the third opening electrically connected to the second conductor;
electrically connecting a first electrode, positioned at the distal end portion and proximate to the outer surface of the body member, to the first and second conductive links; and
electrically connecting a second electrode, positioned at the distal end portion and proximate to the outer surface of the body member, to the third conductive link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neurostimulating lead is provided for use in stimulating the spinal chord, spinal nerves, or peripheral nerves or for use in deep brain stimulation that comprises an elongated, flexible lead having improved steerability properties. The lead includes a plurality of thin-film metal electrodes connected by conductors embedded within the wall of the lead to electrical contacts at the proximal end of the lead. The lead is further designed to include an internal lumen for use with a guidewire in an over-the-wire lead placement.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a medical lead, comprising:
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providing a body member having a wall, a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion, and having a first conductor and a second conductor embedded within the wall and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, the first and second conductors each spaced about the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the body member; forming a first opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor; forming a second opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor; forming a third opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the second conductor; forming a first conductive link in the first opening electrically connected to the first conductor; forming a second conductive link in the second opening electrically connected to the first conductor; forming a third conductive link in the third opening electrically connected to the second conductor; electrically connecting a first electrode, positioned at the distal end portion and proximate to the outer surface of the body member, to the first and second conductive links; and electrically connecting a second electrode, positioned at the distal end portion and proximate to the outer surface of the body member, to the third conductive link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of fabricating a medical lead, comprising:
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providing a lead body having an insulator and a first conductor and a second conductor embedded within the insulator, the first conductor and the second conductor spaced about the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the lead body; forming a first plurality of tunnel regions in the insulator to expose a plurality of portions of the first conductor; forming a second plurality of tunnel regions in the insulator to expose a plurality of portions of the second conductor; forming a first plurality of conductive links, each of the first plurality of conductive links formed in a corresponding one of the first plurality of tunnel regions, wherein each of the first plurality of conductive links is electrically connected to the first conductor; forming a second plurality of conductive links, each of the second plurality of conductive links formed in a corresponding one of the second plurality of tunnel regions, wherein each of the second plurality of conductive links is electrically connected to the second conductor; forming a first conductive band about the lead body, the first conductive band electrically connected to the first plurality of conductive links; and forming a second conductive band about the lead body, the second conductive band electrically connected to the second plurality of conductive links. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of fabricating a medical lead, comprising:
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providing an elongate body member having a proximate end portion, a distal end portion, and an annular wall defining a lumen; embedding a first conductor and a second conductor in the wall; and at a one of the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the body member, forming first and second conductive links extending through the wall, the first and second conductive links electrically connected to the first conductor, forming third and fourth conductive links extending through the wall, the third and fourth conductive links electrically connected to the second conductor, electrically connecting a first electrode to the first and second conductive links, and electrically connecting a second electrode to the third and fourth conductive links. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of fabricating a medical lead, comprising:
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extruding a body member having a proximate end portion, a distal end portion, and an annular wall defining a lumen; winding a first conductor and a second conductor under tension spirally around the body member; heating the body member to embed the conductors in the wall, wherein the first and second conductors are spaced about the same distance from a longitudinal axis of the body member; laser etching a first opening and a second opening in the distal end portion of the body member to expose first and second portions of the first conductor; laser etching a third opening in the distal end portion of the body member to expose a first portion of the second conductor; forming a first conductive link in the first opening and a second conductive link in the second opening, the first and second conductive links electrically connected to the first conductor; forming a third conductive link in the third opening electrically connected to the second conductor; forming a first electrode electrically connected to the first and second conductive links; and forming a second electrode electrically connected to the third conductive link.
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28. A method for fabricating a neurostimulating lead comprising:
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providing a body member having a wall, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; spirally winding a first conductor about the wall of the body member and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion; spirally winding a second conductor about the wall of the body member and extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, and wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are each spaced about the same radial distance from a center axis of the body member; forming a first opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor; forming a second opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the first conductor; forming a third opening in the wall in the distal end portion leading to the second conductor; forming a first conductive link within the first opening to electrically connect to the first conductor; forming a second conductive link within the second opening to electrically connect to the first conductor; forming a third conductive link within the third opening to electrically connect to the second conductor; electrically connecting a first band electrode, positioned at the distal end portion and proximate the outer surface of the body member, to the first conductive link and to the second conductive link; and electrically connecting a second band electrode, positioned at the distal end portion proximate the outer surface of the body member, to the third conductive link.
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Specification