Method for processing electrodes for stimulation lead

• US 8,271,098 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swanson, John, Norlin-Weissenrieder, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US12/604,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 607115-122
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulative material;

providing a plurality of terminals;

electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors;

providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming conductive microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches;

integrating the plurality of electrodes in a paddle structure; and

electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed in at least three columns on the paddle structure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are ring electrodes and the longitudinal trenches circumscribe the plurality of electrodes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are fabricated from platinum iridium alloy material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the trenches are approximately 0.04 inches wide.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the areas of reflow material extend beyond confines of the longitudinal trenches.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the areas of reflow material are substantially limited to confines of the longitudinal trenches.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising;

machining the plurality of electrodes to form the trenches on the plurality of electrodes by applying laser energy to the electrodes.

9. A stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, the stimulation lead comprising:

a lead body comprising a plurality of conductors enclosed within insulative material;

a plurality of terminals electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors;

a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrode, and each electrode comprises areas of reflow material forming conductive microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and

a paddle structure with the plurality of electrodes disposed on the paddle structure.

10. The stimulation lead of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed in at least five columns on the paddle structure.

11. The stimulation lead of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrodes are ring electrodes and the longitudinal trenches circumscribe the plurality of electrodes.

12. The stimulation of claim 9 wherein the plurality of electrodes are fabricated from platinum iridium alloy material.

13. The stimulation of claim 9 wherein the trenches are approximately 0.04 inches wide.

14. The stimulation of claim 9 wherein the areas of reflow material extend beyond confines of the longitudinal trenches.

15. The stimulation of claim 9 wherein the areas of reflow material are substantially limited to confines of the longitudinal trenches.