Extensible implantable medical lead

• US 8,280,526 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wahlstrand, Carl D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): PORTER, JR, GARY A
• Application Number:
  US11/346,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/18 End pieces terminating in a probe
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/36 Conductive members located under tip of screw

Abstract

An extensible medical lead comprises at least one proximal contact, at least one distal electrode, and having at least one conductive filer electrically coupled between the proximal contacts and the distal stimulation electrode. The lead further comprises an outer jacket made of a longitudinally compressible material. The conductive filer may also be coiled to provide extensibility.

Claims

1. An extensible medical lead having at least one proximal contact and at least one distal electrode, the lead comprising:

at least one conductive filer electrically coupled between said proximal contact and said distal electrode;

an inner jacket surrounding the at least one conductive filer, said inner jacket comprising a longitudinally compressed material doped with a conductor; and

an outer jacket forming an outermost surface of the lead for housing said at least one conductive filer and inner jacket, said outer jacket being made of a longitudinally compressed material doped with a conductor, the outer jacket having a helical channel therein and further comprising a coiled outer filer that resides within said channel.

2. A lead according to claim 1 wherein said inner jacket comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. A lead according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally compressed material of the inner jacket is doped with a metal.

4. A lead according to claim 3 wherein the longitudinally compressed material of the outer jacket is doped with a metal.

5. A lead according to claim 3 wherein said at least one conductive filer is coiled.

6. A lead according to claim 5 wherein said at least one conductive filer has a diameter no greater than 0.004 inch.

7. A lead according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coiled filers and a plurality of inner jackets with each coiled filer of the plurality being surrounded by an inner jacket of the plurality, each coiled filer of the plurality having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said jacket.

8. A lead according to claim 7 wherein adjacent ones of said plurality of coiled filers are wound in substantially opposite directions.

9. A lead according to claim 1 wherein said outer filer has a cross-section with flat sides.