Lead or lead extension having a conductive body and conductive body contact

• US 9,259,572 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Alexander, James A., Metzler, Michael E., Lahti, Jay K., Olson, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Jr., Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/294,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 607115-117, 607/119, 607/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0488 Details about the lead
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads

Abstract

An implantable medical device that includes a body that includes a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by an apparatus, and a distal end portion; a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body; a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that, when received by the apparatus, at least a portion of the apparatus is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact; a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact; a conductive body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation; a conductive body contact, wherein the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact. Systems that include devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a body comprising

(i) a proximal end portion, and

(ii) a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation and wherein the conductive body has a same depth within the body over the length of the body;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the body and surrounds and physically contacts the conductive body at the same depth such that the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the conductive body shields at least a portion of the device from electromagnetic radiation.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body comprises titanium.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the conductive body contact is configured to extend the shielding effect of the conductive body.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrical element is an electrical contact.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the device is an extension.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation electrical element is an electrode.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 7, wherein the device is a lead.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the device is an adapter configured to couple a lead or an extension to an implantable signal generator.

10. A system comprising:

an apparatus; and

an implantable medical device comprising;

a body comprising

(i) a proximal end portion at least partially coupled to the apparatus, and

(ii) a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that at least a portion of the apparatus is electrically coupled to the stimulating contact;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation and wherein the conductive body is at a same depth within the body over the length of the body;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the body and surrounds and physically contacts the conductive body at the same depth;

wherein the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the implantable medical device is a lead and the apparatus is an extension.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the extension comprises a conductive body that is not utilized for application of stimulation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein conductive body contact is configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the extension to the conductive body of the lead.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a set screw block of the apparatus that receives the proximal end of the device and a set screw that when tightened within the set screw block releasably mechanically attaches the device and the apparatus.

15. An implantable medical system comprising:

an extension comprising;

an extension body comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the extension body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the extension body;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the extension body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the extension body and is electrically coupled to the conductive body; and

a lead comprising;

a lead body having a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by the extension, and a distal end portion;

an electrode at the distal end portion of the lead body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal portion of the lead body, the stimulating contact being electrically coupled to the electrode and being positioned such that when received by the extension, at least a portion of the extension is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the lead body and wherein the conductive body is at a same depth within the lead body over the length of the lead body;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the lead body and surrounds and physically contacts the conductive body of the lead at the same depth,

wherein the conductive body contact of the lead body and the conductive body of the extension are configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the lead and the conductive body of the extension.

16. The implantable medical system of claim 15, further comprising a set screw block of the extension that receives the proximal end of the lead and a set screw that when tightened within the set screw block releasably mechanically attaches the lead and the extension.

17. The implantable medical system of claim 15, wherein the conductive body contact of the lead body and the conductive body of the extension are configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the lead and the conductive body of the extension by the conductive body contact of the lead and the conductive body contact of the extension being in contact.

18. An implantable medical system comprising:

an extension comprising;

an extension body comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the extension body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the extension body;

a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the extension body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation and wherein the conductive body is at a same depth within the extension body over the length of the extension body;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the extension body and surrounds and physically contacts the conductive body of the extension at the same depth; and

a lead comprising;

a lead body having a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by the extension, and a distal end portion;

an electrode at the distal end portion of the lead body;

a stimulating contact at the proximal portion of the lead body, the stimulating contact being electrically coupled to the electrode and being positioned such that when received by the extension, at least a portion of the extension is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact;

a conductive body that is integrated into and surrounded by the lead body and;

a conductive body contact that is integrated into the lead body and is electrically coupled to the conductive body of the lead,

wherein the conductive body contact of the lead body and the conductive body of the extension are configured to electrically connect the conductive body of the lead and the conductive body of the extension.