Medtronic, Inc.

Jessica L Tower

Michael E Metzler

Mary L Boatwright

Stephen L Bolea

Sean Patrick Skubitz

An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body. A conductor, which is coupled to the coupling portion of the component, is disposed in the channel.

Features for routing conductors in medical electrical lead electrode assemblies

A method for making a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes the steps of: forming an insulative carrier from an insulative material; coupling at least one conductive component to the carrier by inserting a pre-formed tab of the conductive component through the carrier, from a first side thereof to a second side thereof, so that the conductive component is secured to the carrier with the tab extending along a surface of the second side of the carrier and an inward facing surface of an electrode portion of the conductive component being disposed against a surface of the first side of the carrier; coupling an elongate flexible conductor to the tab of the component; and forming an insulative layer over the second side of the carrier, the tab and the conductor electrically coupled to the tab.

Assembly methods for medical electrical leads

A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation includes a first column of electrode surfaces and a second columns of electrode surfaces extending alongside and spaced apart from the first column.

Medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation

A medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes an insulative carrier and at least one conductive component. The at least one conductive component includes an electrode portion disposed on a first side of the carrier and at least one tab extending away from the electrode portion, through the carrier to a second side of the carrier. The electrode portion of the at least one component includes an outward facing contact surface and an inward facing surface, the inward facing surface being disposed opposite the contact surface and against a surface of the first side of the carrier. The electrode assembly further includes a joint coupling a flexible elongate conductor to the tab of the at least one component on the second side of the carrier, and an insulative layer extending over the joint and the tab and the conductor, the insulative layer being bonded to the second side of the carrier.

Medical electrode mounting

A method for making a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes the steps of: forming an insulative carrier from an insulative material; coupling at least one conductive component to the carrier by inserting at least one tab of the at least one conductive component through the carrier, the tab extending away from an electrode portion of the component such that, after the tab is inserted, the electrode portion is disposed on a first side of the carrier and the tab is disposed on a second side of the carrier; coupling an elongate flexible conductor to the tab of the at least one component; and forming an insulative layer over the tab and the conductor on the second side of the carrier.

A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation includes a first column of electrode surfaces and a second column of electrode surfaces, both coupled to a distal portion of the lead such that the two columns extend alongside one another and are spaced apart from one another. Each electrode surface of the first column is coupled to a corresponding conductor of a first plurality of conductors of a first lead body, and each electrode surface of the second column is coupled to a corresponding conductor of a second plurality of conductors of a second lead body. The first and second lead bodies are coupled together by the distal portion of the lead, and each electrode surface extends laterally away from the respective lead body.

Methods for manufacturing a medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation include coupling distal portions of each of a pair of lead bodies to one another. The distal portions each include a plurality of electrode surfaces coupled thereto. Each of the distal portions may further include a column of conductive rings coupled thereto, wherein each electrode surface of the first and second portions is coupled to a corresponding conductive ring of the first and second portions, respectively.

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Jessica L Tower