Reinforced sensing and stimulation leads and use in detection systems
First Claim
1. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion having at least one electrode;
at least one conductor providing communication between the at least one electrode and the lead connection area;
a reinforcing member constructed to enhance the rigidity of the lead; and
a body interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the at least one conductor is disposed between the reinforcing member and the body, wherein the reinforcing member is a stiffening sheath disposed at the distal portion and the distal portion further includes a core member at least partially inserted into a lumen defined by the sheath, with the core member being coupled to the sheath, and wherein the at least one electrode surrounds the core member and is separate therefrom, wherein the reinforcing member includes a stiffening sheath disposed at the proximal portion and the proximal portion further includes a bushing disposed at a proximal end, a proximal end of the sheath being coupled to one end of the bushing, the bushing having a bore formed therein and the sheath defining an inner lumen which is axially aligned with the bore for providing stylet access along a longitudinal length of the lead, wherein the lead connection area comprises a plurality of circumferential lead connection terminals, at least one of the lead connection terminals being disposed around the bushing, wherein a proximal reinforcing element is disposed between the at least one lead connection terminal and the bushing, the proximal reinforcing element being fabricated from a reinforcing fiber structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reinforced medical electrical lead for neurological applications has a reinforced construction for resisting the detachment of electrodes and lead connection terminals, thereby improving the robustness of the lead and extending the life of the lead by reducing the likelihood that a further surgical procedure will be required to remove the lead for repair or replacement thereof. The present reinforced lead construction maintains the integrity of the electrical connection between the conductor and the respective electrode and lead connection terminal by incorporating several reinforcing features in the lead construction in contrast to conventional lead constructions where it is possible to pull the electrodes and lead connection terminals away from their contact points with relatively little force.
143 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion having at least one electrode;
at least one conductor providing communication between the at least one electrode and the lead connection area;
a reinforcing member constructed to enhance the rigidity of the lead; and
a body interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the at least one conductor is disposed between the reinforcing member and the body, wherein the reinforcing member is a stiffening sheath disposed at the distal portion and the distal portion further includes a core member at least partially inserted into a lumen defined by the sheath, with the core member being coupled to the sheath, and wherein the at least one electrode surrounds the core member and is separate therefrom, wherein the reinforcing member includes a stiffening sheath disposed at the proximal portion and the proximal portion further includes a bushing disposed at a proximal end, a proximal end of the sheath being coupled to one end of the bushing, the bushing having a bore formed therein and the sheath defining an inner lumen which is axially aligned with the bore for providing stylet access along a longitudinal length of the lead, wherein the lead connection area comprises a plurality of circumferential lead connection terminals, at least one of the lead connection terminals being disposed around the bushing, wherein a proximal reinforcing element is disposed between the at least one lead connection terminal and the bushing, the proximal reinforcing element being fabricated from a reinforcing fiber structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
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26. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion having at least one electrode in communication with the lead connection area of the proximal portion;
a first reinforcing sheath disposed at the proximal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the proximal portion a second reinforcing sheath disposed at the distal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the distal portion; and
a body interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion;
wherein the distal portion includes a core member at least partially inserted into the second reinforcing sheath and a reinforcing sleeve disposed around the second reinforcing sheath such that the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the inserted core member, the sleeve being crimped around the second reinforcing sheath and the core member to enhance the structural rigidity of the distal portion and retain the core member in place and disperse stress longitudinally along the distal portion.
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
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27. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion having at least one electrode in communication with the lead connection area of the proximal portion;
a first reinforcing sheath disposed at the proximal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the proximal portion a second reinforcing sheath disposed at the distal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the distal portion; and
a body interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion;
wherein the proximal portion includes a bushing having a bore formed therethrough, one end of the bushing being coupled to a proximal end of the first reinforcing sheath, the bore being axially aligned with a longitudinal lumen defined by the first reinforcing sheath to permit a stylet to be received into and extended longitudinally along the lumen, wherein at least a portion of the lead connecting area surrounds a section of the bushing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
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34. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion;
at least one reinforcing sheath disposed in at least the proximal portion and the distal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the lead, the reinforcing sheath defining a longitudinal lumen; and
a body extending from the proximal portion to a point prior to the distal portion;
wherein the distal portion includes a lower electrode strip having at least one electrode in communication with the lead connection area of the proximal portion and a cover that mates with the lower electrode strip to enclose the reinforcing sheath that is disposed in the distal portion, one end of the body being captured between first ends of the lower electrode strip and the cover. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
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51. A reinforced medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a human patient, the lead comprising:
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
a distal portion having at least one electrode;
at least one conductor providing communication between the at least one electrode and the lead connection area;
a first reinforcing member disposed at the proximal portion and a second reinforcing member disposed at the distal portion for enhancing the rigidity of the lead; and
a body interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the at least one conductor is disposed between the first and second reinforcing members and the body and a medial section is defined between the first and second reinforcing members and includes only the at least one conductor. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
- a proximal portion having a lead connection area;
Specification