Forming conductive couplings in medical electrical leads
First Claim
1. A method for forming a conductive coupling between an electrode and a conductor of a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
- Inserting a segment of the conductor into a first portion of a cavity of a conductive coupling component, the cavity being defined by an inner surface of a sidewall of the coupling component;
crimping the sidewall around the inserted segment of the conductor;
inserting a segment of the electrode into a second portion of the cavity, such that an edge of the sidewall is immediately adjacent to the segment of the electrode; and
welding the edge of the sidewall to the inserted segment of the electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inner surface of a coupling component sidewall forms first and second portions of a cavity of the coupling component. A conductive coupling between an electrode and a conductor of a medical electrical lead may be formed by inserting a segment of the conductor into the first portion of the cavity, crimping the sidewall of the coupling component around the inserted segment, inserting a segment of the electrode into the second portion of the cavity, and welding an edge of the sidewall to the inserted electrode segment. The edge of the sidewall may define a slot, extending between first and second portions of the cavity, or a hole extending through the sidewall. The electrode may be part of an electrode assembly, mounted around an inner insulation layer of the lead, and the conductor may be part of a conductor assembly extending between inner and outer insulation layers of the lead.
20 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for forming a conductive coupling between an electrode and a conductor of a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
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Inserting a segment of the conductor into a first portion of a cavity of a conductive coupling component, the cavity being defined by an inner surface of a sidewall of the coupling component; crimping the sidewall around the inserted segment of the conductor; inserting a segment of the electrode into a second portion of the cavity, such that an edge of the sidewall is immediately adjacent to the segment of the electrode; and welding the edge of the sidewall to the inserted segment of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A medical electrical lead, comprising:
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an outer insulation layer; an inner insulation layer extending within the outer insulation layer; a conductive coupling component including a sidewall, the sidewall including an edge and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a cavity of the coupling component, the cavity including a first portion and a second portion; a conductor assembly extending between the inner insulation layer and the outer insulation layer, the conductor assembly including a segment, the segment extending into the first portion of the cavity of the coupling component and being coupled thereto; an electrode assembly mounted around the inner insulation layer, the electrode assembly including an electrode having a segment, the segment of the electrode extending into the second portion of the cavity of the coupling component; and a weld coupling the segment of the electrode to the coupling component, the weld extending along the edge of the sidewall of the coupling component. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A conductive coupling component for a medical electrical lead, the component comprising:
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a cavity including a first open end, a second open end, opposite the first open end, a first portion, extending over a first length from the first open end to the second open end, and a second portion extending over a second length and alongside the first portion, from the first open end to the second open end; and a conductive sidewall including a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge and an inner surface, the inner surface extending between the first, second, third and fourth edges and defining the cavity, the first and second edges defining the first and second open ends, respectively, of the cavity, and the third and fourth edges defining a slot opening into the cavity, such that the slot opening extends from the first open end of the cavity to the second open end of the cavity and in between the first and second portions of the cavity; wherein the first and second edges of the sidewall are contoured such that the first length is greater than the second length. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification