Methods for making leads with segmented electrodes for electrical stimulation systems

• US 8,560,085 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Moffitt, Michael Adam, Pianca, Anne Margaret, DiGiore, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US13/369,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 607115-139
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36182 Direction of the electrical field, e.g. with sleeve around stimulating electrode

Abstract

One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes. At least a first portion of the lead body, proximal to the electrodes, is transparent or translucent and at least a second portion of the lead body, separating two or more of the segmented electrodes, is opaque so that the segmented electrodes separated by the second portion of the lead body are visually distinct. Alternatively or additionally, the stimulation lead can include an indicator ring, a stripe, a groove, or a marking aligned with one or more of the segmented electrodes.

Claims

1. A stimulation lead, comprising:

a non-conductive lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes;

wherein at least a first portion of the lead body, proximal to the plurality of electrodes, is transparent or translucent and at least a second portion of the lead body, separating two or more of the segmented electrodes, is visibly opaque so that the segmented electrodes separated by the second portion of the lead body are visually distinct upon direct observation of the segmented electrodes and second portion of the lead body.

2. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein at least some of the segmented electrodes are formed into a first set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a first longitudinal position along the lead, and a second set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a second longitudinal position along the lead.

3. The stimulation lead of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a region between at least two of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes.

4. The stimulation lead of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a region between at least one of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes and at least one of the segmented electrodes of the second set of segmented electrodes.

5. The stimulation lead of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the lead body farther comprises a region between at least two of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes.

6. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a tip region at the distal end of the lead body.

7. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes further comprises at least one ring electrode.

8. The stimulation lead of claim 7, wherein at least some of the segmented electrodes are formed into a first set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a first longitudinal position along the lead, and a second set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two of the segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a second longitudinal position along the lead and wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a region between the first set of segmented electrodes and a one of the at least one ring electrode.

9. The stimulation lead of claim 7, wherein the at least one ring electrode comprises a first ring electrode located distal to the plurality of segmented electrodes and a second ring electrode located proximal to the plurality of segmented electrodes, wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a region between the first ring electrode and the second ring electrode.

10. The stimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body comprises a region proximal to the plurality of electrodes.

11. The lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body has a white or light color.

12. The lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body has a white, off-white, or pastel color.

13. The lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body is rendered opaque by laser marking or scoring or grinding the second portion of the lead body.

14. The lead of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the lead body is less reflective than the segmented electrodes.

15. The lead of claim 14 wherein the second portion of the lead body has a roughened surface to reduce reflectivity.