Greatbatch Ltd.

Richard M Farrell

John Matthew Swoyer

Jeff Gagnon

Brian K Farrell

Jeff S Gagnon

An implantable electrical lead having a plurality of insulated conductor strands and a plurality of non-conductor strands braided together to maintain the spacing of the conductors from each other to prevent the crossing of the insulated conductor strands. The non-conductor strands are often polymeric strands. In some leads, the conductor strands and non-conductor strands are braided in opposite clockwise directions from each other. The conductor strands may travel adjacent each other in a clockwise direction, crossing non-conductors alternately over then under, with the immediately adjacent conductor strand doing the same but being out of phase. A diamond braid pattern is used in some embodiments. Braids may be formed over a removable mandrel, or a non-removable shaft or tube. Braiding can provide a structure which maintains its configuration after removal from a mandrel without requiring undue stress application to the strands.

Braided electrical lead

Lead devices and methods for neurostimulation are described. Some of the neurostimulation leads provided have multiple, distal region electrode contacts arranged in an array capable of providing steerable spinal cord stimulation. In one use, a collapsed introducer sheath is disposed over a dilator and advanced to a spinal cord target site through a 14-gauge needle into the epidural space. The dilator is removed and the introducer is expanded to its full width. A neurological lead according to the present invention advanced through the introducer to near the target site and the introducer removed. The lead is wider than it is high and has a row of lower electrodes flanked by right and left side electrodes in groups of three. The lower electrodes serve as cathodes and the right and left electrodes are return anodes.

Growing community of inventors

Grant, MN, United States of America

Richard M Farrell