Ribbon electrode

• US 7,818,069 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Colborn, John C., Byerman, Bryan, Marsh-Chetter, J. Nick, Kollatschny, Shawn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark W
• Assistant Examiner(s): So; Elizabeth K
• Application Number:
  US11/829,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 607/115, 607/116, 607/117, 607/118, 607/124, 607/126, 607/130, 607/149, 607/152
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

We disclose an electrode assembly comprising a ribbon electrode having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of bosses disposed on the second surface of the ribbon electrode, wherein each boss has a third surface substantially not in contact with the second surface of the ribbon electrode and at least one boss is electrically conducting; and an insulator contacting substantially the entire second surface of the ribbon electrode and substantially the entire third surface of each boss; wherein the insulator is substantially not in contact with the first surface of the ribbon electrode. We also disclose an implantable medical device system comprising an implantable medical device for generating an electrical signal; an electrode assembly as described; and a lead wire electrically coupled to both the implantable medical device and at least one electrically conducting boss of the electrode assembly.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly, comprising:

a ribbon electrode formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially cylindrical, substantially spiral, and substantially helical conformation having a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of formations disposed on the second surface of the ribbon electrode, wherein each formation has a third surface substantially not in contact with the second surface of the ribbon electrode thereby forming a channel, and at least one formation is electrically conducting;

a lead wire electrically coupled to the at least one electrically conducting formation through that formations'"'"' channel; and

an insulating material contacting substantially the entire second surface of the ribbon electrode and substantially the entire third surface of each formation;

wherein the insulating material is substantially not in contact with the first surface of the ribbon electrode; and

wherein the electrode assembly is implantable.

2. An electrode assembly, comprising:

a ribbon electrode having a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of bosses disposed on the second surface of the ribbon electrode, wherein each boss has a third surface substantially not in contact with the second surface of the ribbon electrode thereby forming a channel, and at least one boss is electrically conducting;

a lead wire electrically coupled to the least one electrically conducting boss through that boss'"'"'s channel; and

an insulator contacting substantially the entire second surface of the ribbon electrode and substantially the entire third surface of each boss;

wherein the insulator is substantially not in contact with the first surface of the ribbon electrode; and

wherein the electrode assembly is implantable.

3. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one boss is integrally formed with the ribbon electrode.

4. The electrode assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one boss is stamped or crimped from the ribbon electrode.

5. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one boss is separately formed from the ribbon electrode and is subsequently affixed to the second surface of the ribbon electrode.

6. The electrode assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one boss is welded or crimped to the ribbon electrode.

7. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein a boss is selected from the group consisting of a saddle, a tunnel, and a wire.

8. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein the insulator is a silicone polymer.

9. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein the ribbon electrode has a flat, cylindrical, spiral, or helical conformation.

10. An implantable medical device system comprising:

an implantable medical device for generating an electrical signal;

an electrode assembly, comprising;

a ribbon electrode having a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of bosses disposed on the second surface of the ribbon electrode, wherein each boss has a third surface substantially not in contact with the second surface of the ribbon electrode thereby forming a channel comprising an arcuate central portion, and at least one boss is electrically conducting; and

an insulator contacting substantially the entire second surface of the ribbon electrode and substantially the entire third surface of each boss;

wherein the insulator is substantially not in contact with the first surface of the ribbon electrode; and

a lead wire electrically coupled to both the implantable medical device and at least one electrically conducting boss through that boss'"'"'s channel.

11. The implantable medical device system of claim 10, wherein at least one boss is integrally formed with the ribbon electrode.

12. The implantable medical device system of claim 11, wherein at least one boss is stamped or crimped from the ribbon electrode.

13. The implantable medical device system of claim 10, wherein at least one boss is separately formed from the ribbon electrode and is affixed to the second surface of the ribbon electrode.

14. The implantable medical device system of claim 13, wherein at least one boss is welded or crimped to the ribbon electrode.

15. The implantable medical device system of claim 10, wherein at least one boss is selected from the group consisting of a saddle, a tunnel, and a wire.

16. The implantable medical device system of claim 10, wherein the insulator is a silicone polymer.

17. The implantable medical device system of claim 10, wherein the ribbon electrode has a flat, cylindrical, spiral, or helical conformation.