System for separating conductors
First Claim
1. A kit for making a lead or lead extension, the kit comprisingan elongated bundle of conductor wires, each conductor wire comprising a conductive core and a layer of insulation disposed over the conductive core;
- a wire-separating element comprisinga solid body defining a center, an outer rim, and a plurality of windows disposed circumferentially around the body,a mounting aperture configured and arranged to receive the bundle of conductor wires, wherein the mounting aperture is positioned at the center of the body,a plurality of retention devices disposed around the outer rim of the body, each retention device configured and arranged to receive, and retain, an end of one of the conductor wires which passes through the center aperture and is bent over, and extended along, the body of the conductor-separating element,wherein, the plurality of windows are positioned such that, when a one of the conductors is extended along the body of the conductor-separating element and received in a one of the retention devices, the one of the conductors has a portion that is entirely exposed through a one of the windows; and
a laser ablation system configured and arranged to ablate a portion of the layer of insulation of each of the conductor wires through the windows.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for forming a lead or lead extension includes forming an arrangement of elongated conductors. Each of the conductors extends from a proximal end of the arrangement to a distal end of the arrangement. Each of the conductors includes a layer of insulation disposed over a conductive core. A conductor-separating element is disposed over either the proximal end or the distal end of the arrangement. The conductor-separating element includes a plurality of ablation windows defined in a body. An end of at least one of the elongated conductors is radially extended over a portion of the conductor-separating element such that a portion of the at least one elongated conductor extends across at least one of the ablation windows. Insulation from the portion of the at least one conductor extending across the ablation window is ablated to expose a portion of the conductive core of the elongated conductor.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A kit for making a lead or lead extension, the kit comprising
an elongated bundle of conductor wires, each conductor wire comprising a conductive core and a layer of insulation disposed over the conductive core; -
a wire-separating element comprising a solid body defining a center, an outer rim, and a plurality of windows disposed circumferentially around the body, a mounting aperture configured and arranged to receive the bundle of conductor wires, wherein the mounting aperture is positioned at the center of the body, a plurality of retention devices disposed around the outer rim of the body, each retention device configured and arranged to receive, and retain, an end of one of the conductor wires which passes through the center aperture and is bent over, and extended along, the body of the conductor-separating element, wherein, the plurality of windows are positioned such that, when a one of the conductors is extended along the body of the conductor-separating element and received in a one of the retention devices, the one of the conductors has a portion that is entirely exposed through a one of the windows; and a laser ablation system configured and arranged to ablate a portion of the layer of insulation of each of the conductor wires through the windows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wire-separating element, comprising:
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a solid body defining a center, an outer rim, and a plurality of windows disposed circumferentially around the body; a mounting aperture configured and arranged to receive a bundle of conductor wires, wherein the mounting aperture is positioned at the center of the body; and a plurality of retention devices disposed around the outer rim of the body, each retention device configured and arranged to receive, and retain, an end of one of the conductor wires which passes through the center aperture and is bent over, and extended along, the body of the conductor-separating element; wherein the plurality of windows are positioned such that, when a one of the conductors is extended along the body of the conductor-separating element and received in a one of the retention devices, the one of the conductor wires has a portion that is entirely exposed through a one of the windows to allow ablation of a layer of insulation on the conductor wire. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification