Devices, systems and methods to reduce coupling of a shield and a conductor within an implantable medical lead
First Claim
1. A method of providing a medical lead, comprising:
- providing a conductor having a diameter;
providing a radio frequency (RF) shield that surrounds the conductor such that a space exists between the shield and the conductor;
providing a lead body with a lumen, the lead body encapsulating the shield and surrounding the conductor with a portion of the conductor diameter being embedded within the lead body such that a first portion of the conductor diameter is present within the lumen and a second portion of the conductor diameter is sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen, and the lead body filling the space; and
providing an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Conductors within an implantable medical lead that carry stimulation signal signals are at least partially embedded within a lead body of the medical lead over at least a portion of the length of the conductors while being surrounded by a radio frequency (RF) shield. A space between the shield and the conductors is filled by the presence of the lead body material such that body fluids that infiltrate the lead over time cannot pool in the space between the shield and the conductors. The dielectric properties of the lead body are retained and the capacitive coupling between the shield and the conductors continues to be inhibited such that current induced on the shield is inhibited from being channeled onto the conductors. Heating at the electrodes of the medical lead is prevented from becoming excessive.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of providing a medical lead, comprising:
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providing a conductor having a diameter; providing a radio frequency (RF) shield that surrounds the conductor such that a space exists between the shield and the conductor; providing a lead body with a lumen, the lead body encapsulating the shield and surrounding the conductor with a portion of the conductor diameter being embedded within the lead body such that a first portion of the conductor diameter is present within the lumen and a second portion of the conductor diameter is sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen, and the lead body filling the space; and providing an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of providing a medical lead, comprising:
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forming an inner lead body layer of a lead body about a conductor to embed a first lengthwise portion of the conductor within the inner lead body layer such that the first lengthwise portion of the conductor is at least partially sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen while a second lengthwise portion of the conductor resides in the lumen and is surrounded by the lumen wall; positioning a radio frequency (RF) shield about the lead body inner layer; forming an outer lead body layer of the lead body about the shield and the inner lead body layer to encapsulate the shield and to bond with the inner lead body layer; and providing an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable medical lead, comprising:
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a conductor having a diameter; a radio frequency (RF) shield that surrounds the conductor such that a space exists between the shield and the conductor; a lead body with a lumen, the lead body encapsulating the shield and surrounding the conductor with a portion of the conductor diameter being embedded within the lead body such that a first portion of the conductor diameter is present within the lumen and a second portion of the conductor diameter is sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen, and the lead body filling the space; and an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implantable medical system, comprising:
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a pulse generator; and a medical lead, comprising; a conductor having a diameter, the conductor being electrically coupled to the pulse generator; a radio frequency (RF) shield that surrounds the conductor such that a space exists between the shield and the conductor; a lead body with a lumen, the lead body encapsulating the shield and surrounding the conductor with a portion of the conductor diameter being embedded within the lead body such that a first portion of the conductor diameter is present within the lumen and a second portion of the conductor diameter is sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen, and the lead body filling the space; and an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implantable medical lead, comprising:
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a conductor having a diameter; a radio frequency (RF) shield that surrounds the conductor such that a space exists between the shield and the conductor; a lead body with a lumen, the lead body encapsulating the shield and surrounding the conductor with a first longitudinal section of the conductor diameter being at least partially embedded within the lead body such that the conductor is at least partially sunken into a lumen wall forming the lumen and with a second longitudinal section of the conductor diameter that is distal of the first longitudinal section and being less embedded by the lead body than the first section, and the lead body filling the space between the first section of the conductor and the shield; and an electrode attached to the lead body and electrically coupled to the conductor.
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Specification