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Self-folding paddle lead and method of fabricating a paddle lead

  • US 8,831,746 B2
  • Filed: 06/27/2011
  • Issued: 09/09/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for fabricating a stimulation lead for electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, comprising:

  • providing a prefabricated lead body for conducting electrical pulses through a plurality of conductors;

    providing a thin-film paddle for delivering the electrical pulses from the plurality of conductors to tissue of the patient, wherein (i) the paddle comprises a metal layer laminated to at least one insulative layer, the at least one insulative layer being a thin film of flexible, foldable polymer material, (ii) the metal layer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated features defined by gaps in the metal layer, (iii) each feature formed by a continuous planar strip of conductive material extending from a proximal end of the paddle with a portion of the respective continuous planar strip exposed through insulative material of the paddle forming an electrode of the paddle;

    (iv) the electrodes of the features are organized in a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion of the metal layer;

    providing a support structure; and

    mechanically coupling the paddle and the lead body to the support structure, wherein the thin-film paddle comprises a proximal portion for terminating each of the plurality of features with a respective connector element for electrical and mechanical connection to one of the plurality of conductors of the prefabricated lead body.

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