Lead assembly and method of making same
First Claim
1. A method of making a stimulation lead having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising:
- placing a plurality of conductive terminal contacts at the proximal end of the stimulation lead;
placing a plurality of electrode contacts at the distal end of the stimulation lead;
connecting a plurality of conductor wires to the plurality of terminal contacts such that for each of the plurality of terminal contacts a different conductor wire of the plurality of conductor wires connects to the terminal contact, wherein the plurality of conductor wires comprises a first conductor wire and a second conductor wire, wherein the first conductor wire extends within a first conductor lumen of a plurality of conductor lumens defined in a lead body of the stimulation lead, wherein the second conductor wire extends within a second conductor lumen of the plurality of conductor lumens defined in the lead body of the stimulation lead, wherein the lead body defines a stylet lumen configured and arranged for receiving a stylet, and wherein the plurality of conductor lumens and the stylet lumen each extend along a substantial length of the stimulation lead from the proximal end;
placing a terminal spacer between a pair of adjacent conductive terminal contacts of the plurality of conductive terminal contacts;
andapplying epoxy to the proximal end of the stimulation lead such that the epoxy at least partially fills the conductor lumens in proximity to the proximal end of the stimulation lead.
2 Assignments
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A lead assembly and a method of making a lead are provided. The lead comprises a terminal, proximal end having a plurality of terminal contacts and material separating the terminal contacts. In one embodiment of the lead, the terminal contacts are separated by a preformed spacer, that may be made from various hard materials such as polyurethane, PEEK and polysulfone. Epoxy may be used to fill spaces at the proximal lead end, including between the spacer and terminal contacts. In one embodiment of the lead, the terminal contacts are separated by epoxy only. The lead may include a plurality of conductor lumens that contain conductors. The lead may also include a stylet lumen for accepting a stylet.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of making a stimulation lead having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising:
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placing a plurality of conductive terminal contacts at the proximal end of the stimulation lead; placing a plurality of electrode contacts at the distal end of the stimulation lead; connecting a plurality of conductor wires to the plurality of terminal contacts such that for each of the plurality of terminal contacts a different conductor wire of the plurality of conductor wires connects to the terminal contact, wherein the plurality of conductor wires comprises a first conductor wire and a second conductor wire, wherein the first conductor wire extends within a first conductor lumen of a plurality of conductor lumens defined in a lead body of the stimulation lead, wherein the second conductor wire extends within a second conductor lumen of the plurality of conductor lumens defined in the lead body of the stimulation lead, wherein the lead body defines a stylet lumen configured and arranged for receiving a stylet, and wherein the plurality of conductor lumens and the stylet lumen each extend along a substantial length of the stimulation lead from the proximal end; placing a terminal spacer between a pair of adjacent conductive terminal contacts of the plurality of conductive terminal contacts; and applying epoxy to the proximal end of the stimulation lead such that the epoxy at least partially fills the conductor lumens in proximity to the proximal end of the stimulation lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A stimulation lead having a proximal end, a distal end and an insulative covering, the lead comprising:
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a plurality of electrode contacts on the distal end of the stimulation lead; a plurality of conductive terminal contacts at the proximal end of the stimulation lead; a lead body extending along a substantial length of the stimulation lead, the lead body defining a plurality of conductor lumens and a stylet lumen, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens and the stylet lumen extend along a length of the lead body, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens comprises a first conductor lumen and a second conductor lumen; a plurality of conductor wires, each conductor wire of the plurality of conductor wires connecting a different one of the plurality of conductive terminal contacts to one of the electrode contacts, wherein the plurality of conductor wires comprises a first conductor wire and a second conductor wire, wherein the first conductor wire extends along the first conductor lumen and the second conductor wire extends along the second conductor lumen; a terminal spacer that is positioned between a first and a second adjacent terminal contacts of the plurality of conductive terminal contacts; and epoxy that is within at least some portion of the plurality of conductor lumens in proximity to the proximal end of the stimulation lead. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A stimulation lead having a proximal end and a distal end and an insulative covering, the lead comprising:
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a plurality of electrode contacts on the distal end of the stimulation lead; a plurality of conductive terminal contacts disposed at the proximal end of the stimulation lead, the plurality of conductive terminal contacts comprising a first conductive terminal contact and a second conductive terminal contact; a lead body extending along a substantial length of the stimulation lead, the lead body defining a plurality of conductor lumens and a stylet lumen, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens and the stylet lumen extend along a length of the lead body, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens comprises a first conductor lumen and a second conductor lumen; a plurality of conductor wires, each conductor wire of the plurality of conductor wires connecting a different one of the plurality of conductive terminal contacts to one of the plurality of electrode contacts, wherein the plurality of conductor wires comprises a first conductor wire and a second conductor wire, wherein the first conductor wire extends along the first conductor lumen and the second conductor wire extends along the second conductor lumen; a terminal spacer that is positioned between the first and the second terminal contacts, wherein the terminal spacer is selected from the group consisting of PEEK and polysulfone; and epoxy disposed within at least some portion of the plurality of conductor lumens in proximity to the proximal end of the stimulation lead. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification