LEADS WITH PROXIMAL STIFFENING AND RELATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE

摘要

An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body; electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the lead body or on a paddle body coupled to the lead body; terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the lead body; and conductors coupling the terminals to the electrodes. The lead also includes a conductor guide disposed within the lead body and extending from the proximal portion of the lead body. The conductor guide defines a central lumen and a plurality of conductor lumens disposed around the central lumen. The lead further includes a stiffening agent disposed within at least one of the conductor lumens. The stiffening agent includes a) a material formed from a granular particulate material, b) a polymeric material having a durometer at least 10% greater than the durometer of the conductor guide, or c) a continuous epoxy layer within which discrete epoxy particles are also disposed.

主权项

1. An electrical stimulation lead, comprising:
a lead body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a longitudinal length; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the lead body or on a paddle body coupled to the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the lead body; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of terminals to the plurality of electrodes; a conductor guide disposed within the lead body and extending from the proximal portion of the lead body along the lead body, the conductor guide defining a central lumen and a plurality of conductor lumens disposed around the central lumen, the central lumen and conductor lumens extending longitudinally along the conductor guide, the conductor lumens having a proximal end and receiving the plurality of conductors within the conductor lumens; and a stiffening agent disposed within at least one of the conductor lumens from the proximal end to at least a portion of the conductor lumen within which at least one of the conductors is disposed, wherein the stiffening agent comprises a material formed from a granular particulate material disposed within the conductor lumen.