Self-folding paddle lead and method of fabricating a paddle lead

摘要

In one embodiment, a medical lead comprises a lead body for conducting electrical pulses and a paddle. The paddle includes an intermediate metal layer, at least an insulative polymer backing layer, and an insulative polymer covering layer. The intermediate metal layer comprises a plurality of features defined by gaps in the metal material in the metal layer such that each feature is electrically isolated from each other feature, wherein each feature includes a respective connector element that is electrically coupled to at least one conductor within the lead body, wherein a portion of the insulative polymer covering layer is exposed above each feature to define a respective electrode for the corresponding feature. Also, the paddle possesses shape memory to cause the paddle to assume a substantially planar orientation when the shape memory is in a relaxed state.

主权项

1. A method for fabricating a stimulation lead for electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, comprising:
providing a prefabricated lead body for conducting electrical pulses through a plurality of conductors; providing a thin-film paddle for delivering the electrical pulses from the plurality of conductors to tissue of the patient, wherein (i) the paddle comprises a metal layer laminated to at least one insulative layer, the at least one insulative layer being a thin film of flexible, foldable polymer material, (ii) the metal layer comprises a plurality of electrically isolated features defined by gaps in the metal layer, (iii) each feature formed by a continuous planar strip of conductive material extending from a proximal end of the paddle with a portion of the respective continuous planar strip exposed through insulative material of the paddle forming an electrode of the paddle; (iv) the electrodes of the features are organized in a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion of the metal layer; providing a support structure; and mechanically coupling the paddle and the lead body to the support structure, wherein the thin-film paddle comprises a proximal portion for terminating each of the plurality of features with a respective connector element for electrical and mechanical connection to one of the plurality of conductors of the prefabricated lead body.