Medtronic, Inc.

Thomas E Cross, Jr

Carl D Wahlstrand

Gary William King

Ethan A Rooney

James M Olsen

Kenneth Timothy Heruth

Paul W Wacnik

Stephen L Bolea

Jeffrey S Evanson

Richard T Stone

Thomas Barry Hoegh

Gregory Anthony Hrdlicka

Kenneth M Alo

Vladimir Redko

Gabor Racz

Michaelene M Williams

Michael D Baudino

Thomas C Bischoff

Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij

Frans L H Gielen

Vincent W Hull

Scott J Robinson

Richard H Comben

Bret R Shoberg

Mark A Hjelle

Paula M Kaplan

Charmaine Kaye Harris

David J Stanton

Jane L Kohnen

Michael D Serfling

James P Langley

Alan C Rausch

Douglas R Gray

Jamie A Mattson

Gerald J Hults

Yves Keravel

Jean Paul N'Guyen

Barry J Grant

Delivery of peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) in combination with one or more other therapies is described. The other therapy delivered in combination with PNFS may be, for example, a different type of neurostimulation, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or a drug. PNFS and the other therapy may be delivered simultaneously, in an alternating fashion, according to a schedule, and/or selectively, e.g., in response to a request received from a patient or clinician. A combination therapy that includes PNFS may be able to more completely address complex or multifocal pain than would be possible through delivery of either PNFS or other therapies alone. Further, the combination of PNFS with one or more other therapies may reduce the likelihood that neural accommodation will impair the perceived effectiveness PNFS or the other therapies.

Combination therapy including peripheral nerve field stimulation

Peripheral nerve field stimulation and spinal cord stimulation

A stimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket is provided for housing the conductive filer and providing a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body.

MRI-safe implantable lead

The disclosure describes an introducer for facilitating implantation of therapy elements into a patient. The introducer has an elongated body that defines a lumen for advancement of a therapy element to an implant site, and includes a curved portion medially located between substantially straight proximal and distal portions. As an example, the shape of the introducer may allow a clinician to more easily, and without substantially damaging surrounding tissue, find the correct tissue depth and follow that tissue depth to the implant site. For example, the introducer may facilitate implantation of a therapy element within or between desired layers of tissue of the patient. In some embodiments, fluid may be injected through the introducer to create a space within the tissue to implant the therapy element. Fluid may also be evacuated through the introducer prior to implantation.

Introducer for therapy delivery elements

An implantable medical device (IMD) with a housing and electrodes on at least two surfaces of the housing is described. The surfaces may be, for example, opposed, substantially parallel surfaces, e.g., top and bottom surfaces. Location of electrodes on multiple surfaces of the housing may allow the IMD to deliver stimulation to a variety of tissues and with a variety of current field configurations. For example, the IMD may deliver peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) to one or more tissue areas via electrodes selected from one or both of the surfaces to, for example, reduce the sensation of pain in a tissue area proximate to an implantation site of the IMD without targeting a specific nerve. The IMD may be implanted between or within intra-dermal, deep dermal, or subcutaneous layers of the tissue of the patient to deliver PNFS to any one or more of these layers.

Implantable medical device with electrodes on multiple housing surfaces

The disclosure describes an implantable medical lead for delivering stimulation to a patient. Electrodes may be located on two or more surfaces of the lead to, for example, selectively deliver stimulation to one or more tissue layers within the patient. The lead may be implanted within or between intra-dermal, deep dermal, or subcutaneous tissue layers, and may be used to, for example, deliver peripheral nerve field stimulation to treat pain experienced by the patient at the site at which the lead is implanted. The lead may comprise a paddle lead or a multiple level lead, e.g., a lead having a plurality of flat or paddle shaped lead bodies arranged in substantially parallel planes. Further, the lead may include fixation structures on the distal end, proximal end, or both ends to prevent migration.

Implantable medical lead

A medical lead for electrical stimulation or sensing. The medical lead has a generally flat paddle on the distal end of the lead body. An electrode array is provided on the paddle, with the electrode array displaced along the length of the paddle toward the distal end. Advantages include allowing the electrode array may be advanced into position for electrical stimulation or sensing with the flat paddle extending through connective tissue, such as the ligamentum flavum, thus facilitating repositioning, withdrawal or explanting the medical lead, as well as using the flat features of the paddle to anchor the lead to the connective tissue.

Paddle-style medical lead and method

The present invention provides for an improved apparatus and method for electrical stimulation. A paddle having a thickness up to 0.030 inches is implanted adjacent the spinal cord dura mater to reduce the likelihood of paralysis due to stress on the spinal cord attributed to bulkier leads. The paddle is then positioned so that at least one of a plurality of electrodes is positioned over the area of the spinal cord requiring pain treatment; and then electric stimulation is applied to the electrodes to effect pain treatment. In another embodiment the paddle is curved about a vertical axis to substantially match the shape of a human spinal cord dura mater to help reduce lead migration.

Surgical lead paddle

Implantable medical leads and methods of making. The method includes providing first and second tubes, and arranging a segment of the first tube side-by-side with a segment of the second tube along a region of interface. The tubes are forced to a non-linear shape along at least a portion of the region of interface. An adhesive is applied to the portion of the region of interface and cured. Upon curing, the adhesive bonds the tubes to one another and elastically maintains the non-linear shape in the absence of an external force. A conductive element is disposed within at least one of the tubes. In some embodiments, the non-linear shape is a sigmoid shape, and the method includes arranging the tube segments in a fixture having a structure defining the sigmoid shape.

Methods of making implantable medical leads with a non-linear shape

Growing community of inventors

St. Francis, MN, United States of America

Thomas E Cross, Jr