Medtronic, Inc.

Xavier Pardo

Brian T Stolz

Mary Lee Cole

Shahn S Sage

Jeffrey S Gagnon

Scott B Kokones

An implantable lead for a medical device with a coplanar coupling for connecting a conductor to a contact reduces conductor bending moments to improve lead reliability. The implantable lead comprises a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one conductor, at least one contact carried on the proximal end, at least one contact carried on the distal end, and at least one coupling. The lead body has an exterior surface. The conductor is contained in the lead body and extends from the lead proximal end to the distal end. The conductor is also electrically insulated. The contact carried on the proximal end is electrically connected to the conductor. The coupling has a conductor coupling and a contact coupling. The conductor coupling is placed over the conductor and attached to the conductor. The contact coupling exits the lead body and has a weld to connect the contact coupling to the contact. The contact coupling is configured to exit the conductor lumen and mate with the contact while retaining the conductor coplanar to the lead body.

Implantable lead with coplanar contact coupling

An implantable lead body for a medical device with improved conductor lumens separates and insulates conductors while permitting access to the conductors through the implantable lead outer surface. The implantable lead comprises a lead body, a stylet lumen, at least one conductor lumen, and at least one axial slit in the lead body. The lead body has a proximal end, a distal end, an internal portion, and an external portion. The stylet lumen is formed in the internal portion. The conductor lumen is formed in the internal portion and positioned near an outer surface of the internal portion such that there is only a web between the conductor lumen and the outer surface of the internal portion. The axial slit is formed in the lead body distal end between the conductor lumen and the outer surface of the internal portion.

Method of manufacturing an implantable lead

An implantable lead for a medical device with an improved stylet lumen reduces the potential for damage to a stylet and seals the lead proximal end. The implantable lead comprises a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end, a stylet lumen, at least two conductor lumens, at least two conductors, at least two contacts carried on the proximal end, at least two contacts carried on the distal end, and a proximal flare formed on the lead proximal end. The two conductors are contained in the conductor lumens and extend from the lead proximal end to the distal end. The two contacts carried on the lead distal end are electrically connected to the conductors. The proximal flare has tapering walls that narrow toward a stylet opening to guide insertion of a stylet into the stylet lumen, and the proximal flare seals the conductor lumens proximal end to isolate the conductor lumens.

Implantable lead with improved stylet lumen

An implantable lead for a medical device with an isolated contact connection for connecting a conductor to a contact reduces the opportunity for conductor material to migrate to a contact or into a patient. The implantable lead comprises a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one conductor, at least one contact carried on the proximal end, at least one contact carried on the distal end, at least one coupling. The lead has an exterior surface. The conductor is contained in the lead body and extends from the lead proximal end to the distal end. The conductor is electrically insulated. The contact carried on the proximal end is electrically connected to the conductor. The coupling has a conductor coupling and a contact coupling. The conductor coupling is placed over the conductor and attached to the conductor. The contact coupling exits the lead body and has a weld to connect the contact coupling to the contact. There is an isolation space created between the conductor and the contact to prevent the weld from containing conductor material.

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Xavier Pardo