Segmented electrode leads formed from pre-electrodes with alignment features and methods of making and using the leads

摘要

A pre-electrode for a stimulation lead includes a generally cylindrical body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes multiple segmented electrodes disposed along the body; connecting material disposed along the outer surface of the body and coupling each of the segmented electrodes to one another; and multiple cutouts defined between adjacent segmented electrodes. The body also includes one or more of the following 1) a end wall step section formed in the exterior surface of the body on either the distal end or the proximal end of the body; 2) an alignment feature selected from a slot or a notch extending inwardly from the exterior surface of the body, or 3) a longitudinal step section formed in the exterior surface of the body.

主权项

1. A pre-electrode for a stimulation lead, the pre-electrode comprising:
a generally cylindrical body comprising an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the body comprising
a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed around the body in a circumferentially spaced-apart configuration, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes having opposing side-walls extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body,connecting material forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body and coupling together the plurality of segmented electrodes, andat least one end wall step section formed in the exterior surface of the body on either the distal end or the proximal end of the body, wherein the at least one end wall step section extends through at least some of the connecting material that is located between at least two circumferentially-adjacent segmented electrodes.