Self-folding paddle lead and method of fabricating a paddle lead
First Claim
1. A medical lead for delivering electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient, the medical lead comprising:
- a lead body for conducting electrical pulses through a plurality of conductors;
a paddle for delivering the electrical pulses from the plurality of conductors to tissue of the patient, wherein (i) the paddle comprises a metal layer laminated to at least one insulative layer;
(ii) the metal layer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated features defined by gaps in the metal layer;
(iii) each feature formed by a continuous planar strip of conductive material extending from a proximal end of the paddle with a portion of the respective continuous planar strip exposed through insulative material of the paddle forming an electrode of the paddle;
(iv) the electrodes of the features are organized in a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion of the metal layer; and
(v) the metal layer comprises a plurality of guide structures for distributing force from a distal end of the paddle into a body of the paddle; and
a support structure that is mechanically coupled to the paddle and to the lead body, wherein the support structure comprises a recess for directing folding of the first portion;
wherein the guide structures cause the first longitudinal portion to have a different amount of rigidity than the second longitudinal portion such that contact of a distal end of the paddle with a lumen of an insertion tool causes the first portion to fold over the second portion and causes the first portion to unfold, upon exit from the lumen, in a substantially lateral manner relative to a plane in which the paddle is disposed.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a medical lead comprises a lead body for conducting electrical pulses and a paddle. The paddle includes an intermediate metal layer, at least an insulative polymer backing layer, and an insulative polymer covering layer. The intermediate metal layer comprises a plurality of features defined by gaps in the metal material in the metal layer such that each feature is electrically isolated from each other feature, wherein each feature includes a respective connector element that is electrically coupled to at least one conductor within the lead body, wherein a portion of the insulative polymer covering layer is exposed above each feature to define a respective electrode for the corresponding feature. Also, the paddle possesses shape memory to cause the paddle to assume a substantially planar orientation when the shape memory is in a relaxed state.
44 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A medical lead for delivering electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient, the medical lead comprising:
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a lead body for conducting electrical pulses through a plurality of conductors; a paddle for delivering the electrical pulses from the plurality of conductors to tissue of the patient, wherein (i) the paddle comprises a metal layer laminated to at least one insulative layer;
(ii) the metal layer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated features defined by gaps in the metal layer;
(iii) each feature formed by a continuous planar strip of conductive material extending from a proximal end of the paddle with a portion of the respective continuous planar strip exposed through insulative material of the paddle forming an electrode of the paddle;
(iv) the electrodes of the features are organized in a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion of the metal layer; and
(v) the metal layer comprises a plurality of guide structures for distributing force from a distal end of the paddle into a body of the paddle; anda support structure that is mechanically coupled to the paddle and to the lead body, wherein the support structure comprises a recess for directing folding of the first portion; wherein the guide structures cause the first longitudinal portion to have a different amount of rigidity than the second longitudinal portion such that contact of a distal end of the paddle with a lumen of an insertion tool causes the first portion to fold over the second portion and causes the first portion to unfold, upon exit from the lumen, in a substantially lateral manner relative to a plane in which the paddle is disposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification