US5358516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable electrophysiology lead and method of making
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-11
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Granted: 1994-10-25
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Expires: 2012-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An implantable lead in the form of an electrical conductor wire having an insulating layer of impervious plastic surrounding the surface of the electrical conductor wire and further having an exterior surface covering of porous PTFE. The impervious plastic insulating layer is preferably a thermoplastic and most preferably a thermoplastic fluoropolymer such as ETFE, FEP or PFA. The exterior surface covering of porous PTFE offers improved flexibility and biocompatibility in comparison to conventional lead wires having silicone exterior surfaces, while the impervious plastic insulating layer prevents loss of insulating integrity resulting from wetting out of the porous PTFE exterior surface by body fluids. Methods of making the implantable lead are also described.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Myers
- 👤 John M. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; H; H01; H01B; H01B3/00; H01B3/18; H01B3/30; H01B3/44; H01B3/443; H01B3/445; H01B7/00; H01B7/17; H01B7/28; H01B7/282; H01B7/2825
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
An implantable lead comprising: a) at least one electrical conductor wire; b) a layer of impervious plastic insulation tubularly and coaxially surrounding the at least one electrical conductor wire; and c) an exterior coaxial covering comprised of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
An implantable lead comprising: a) at least one electrical conductor wire; b) a layer of impervious plastic insulation tubularly and coaxially surrounding the at least one electrical conductor wire; and c) an exterior coaxial covering comprised of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor wire is a helically wound electrical conductor wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable lead according to claim 2 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing the electrical conductor wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An implantable lead according to claim 2 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is silicone tubing and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene is in the form of a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
An implantable lead according to claim 2 having a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing coaxially covering the helically wound electrical conductor wire and lying between the helically wound electrical conductor wire and the layer of impervious plastic insulation, wherein the layer of impervious plastic insulation and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene comprise a laminated film having a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer and a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An implantable lead according to claim 2 wherein the helically wound conductor wire has a separate layer of plastic insulation covering the surface of the helically wound conductor wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable lead according to claim 6 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing the electrical conductor wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An implantable lead according to claim 6 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is silicone tubing and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene is in the form of a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
An implantable lead according to claim 6 having a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing coaxially covering the electrical conductor wire and lying between the electrical conductor wire and the layer of impervious plastic insulation, wherein the layer of impervious plastic insulation and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene comprise a laminated film having a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer and a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is silicone tubing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is silicone tubing and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene is in the form of a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable lead according to claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylenetetrafluoroethylene copolymer, fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 having a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing coaxially covering the electrical conductor wire and lying between the electrical conductor wire and the layer of impervious plastic insulation, wherein the layer of impervious plastic insulation and the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene comprise a laminated film having a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer and a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing exteriorly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An implantable lead according to claim 13 wherein the non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable lead according to claim 15 wherein the thermoplastic fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylenetetrafluoroethylene copolymer, fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene is a porous polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, wherein the fibril length is greater than about 4 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable lead according to claims 17 wherein the fibril length is greater than about 10 microns
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable lead according to claim 17 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing the electrical conductor wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An implantable lead according to claim 1 wherein the impervious plastic insulation is a laminated film comprising a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene facing the electrical conductor wire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
An implantable lead according to claim 20 wherein the non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, fluorinated ethylene propylene and perfluoroalkoxy resin.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of making an implantable lead having an impervious plastic insulating layer and an exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing, comprising: a) helically wrapping a laminated film about a mandrel, wherein the laminated film comprises a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer, with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene in contact with the mandrel; b) coaxially fitting the exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing over the mandrel having the helical wrapping of laminated film; c) heating the mandrel, laminated film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing adequately to cause the thermoplastic fluoropolymer to melt, and then cooling; d) withdrawing the mandrel to create a space and cutting off the ends of the helically wrapped film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing flush with each other; and e) inserting an electrical conductor wire into the space previously occupied by the mandrel.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of making an implantable lead having an impervious plastic insulating layer and an exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing, comprising: a) helically wrapping a laminated film about a mandrel, wherein the laminated film comprises a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of non-porous thermoplastic fluoropolymer, with the layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene in contact with the mandrel; b) coaxially fitting the exterior covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing over the mandrel having the helical wrapping of laminated film; c) heating the mandrel, laminated film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing adequately to cause the thermoplastic fluoropolymer to melt, and then cooling; d) withdrawing the mandrel to create a space and cutting off the ends of the helically wrapped film and porous polytetrafluoroethylene tubing flush with each other; and e) inserting an electrical conductor wire into the space previously occupied by the mandrel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |