Patent US5121754A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5121754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lateral displacement percutaneously inserted epidural lead
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1990-08-21
•
Granted: 1992-06-16
•
Expires: 2010-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An insulated electrical lead for coupling the output of a neurological stimulator with the tissue to be stimulated. In most situations, the neurological stimulator is an implantable pulse generator and the tissue to be stimulated is the spinal cord, although other configurations are contemplated. The insulated electrical lead has a sealable connector at the proximal end which couples to the implantable pulse generator. The distal end contains a number of electrodes placed in close proximity to the tissue to be stimulated. A different conductor couples each of the electrodes to the proximal connector. The distal portion of the insulated lead has a deformable sigmoidal shape. The electrodes are spaced along the length of the deformable sigmoidal shape. This causes the electrodes to be displaced laterally so that specific neural tracts in the spinal cord are preferentially stimulated by various combinations of electrode polarity.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith R. Mullett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus comprising: a. a neurological pulse generator; and, b. an implantable lead coupled to said neurological pulse generator having a sigmoidal deformable shape and having a plurality of electrodes interspersed along said deformable shape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus comprising: a. a neurological pulse generator; and, b. an implantable lead coupled to said neurological pulse generator having a sigmoidal deformable shape and having a plurality of electrodes interspersed along said deformable shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said deformable shape further comprises a deformable sigmoidal bend.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a removable straightening stylet within said implantable lead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an implantable lead for spinal cord stimulation having an electrode with a distal end and having a sigmoidal shape at said distal end within the epidural space, the improvement comprising: a plurality of electrodes interspersed along said sigmoidal shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an implantable lead for spinal cord stimulation having an electrode with a distal end and having a sigmoidal shape at said distal end within the epidural space, the improvement comprising: a plurality of electrodes interspersed along said sigmoidal shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An improvement according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of electrodes comprises five electrodes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of stimulting a spinal cord of a patient comprising: a) performing an insulated lead having a central lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end and having at least one electrode adjacent said distal end such that a region of said distal end resiliently returns to a non-linear shape and said at least one electrode is located within said region; b) straightening said region by passing a stylet through said central lumen; c) implanting said region within the epidural space of said spinal cord; d) removing said stylet; and e) electrically coupling said proximal end of said insulated lead to a pulse generator.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of stimulting a spinal cord of a patient comprising: a) performing an insulated lead having a central lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end and having at least one electrode adjacent said distal end such that a region of said distal end resiliently returns to a non-linear shape and said at least one electrode is located within said region; b) straightening said region by passing a stylet through said central lumen; c) implanting said region within the epidural space of said spinal cord; d) removing said stylet; and e) electrically coupling said proximal end of said insulated lead to a pulse generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 6 further comprising: implanting said pulse generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said performing causes said region to resiliently return to a sigmoidal shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said at least one electrode is a plurality of electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said plurality of electrodes is five electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 which further comprises: rotating said region such that after said removing steps, said plurality of electrodes are laterally displaced within said spinal cord.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said at least one electrode is a plurality of electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of electrodes is five electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprises: rotating said region such that after said removing step, said plurality of electrodes are laterally displaced within said spinal cord.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-12-16 | 1996-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-16 | 1999-12-16 | 2000-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-16 | 2003-12-16 | 2004-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |