US5609622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable electrode with conductive polytetrafluoroethylene elecrode
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-12
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2015-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An implantable electrode in the form a helically wound conductor having an electrically conductive polymeric layer coaxially surrounding and contacting the helically wound conductor, wherein the electrically conductive polymeric layer is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation. Preferably, the electrode has two conductive portions, the additional second conductive portion being preferably located at the distal tip. The implantable electrode preferably incorporates an insulating portion wherein an additional length of the helically wound conductor is continuous with the remaining length of helically wound conductor coaxially covered by the electrically conductive polymeric layer. The insulating portion has a coaxial covering of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material which is preferably silicone tubing. More preferably the coaxial covering of impermeably polymeric electrically insulating material has an additional exterior coaxial covering of porous PTFE for improved biocompatibility and flexibility. The porous PTFE is preferably porous expanded PTFE having a fibril length of less than 10 microns in order to substantially preclude tissue ingrowth and tissue attachment. The electrically conductive polymeric layer of the electrode is preferably made of porous expanded PTFE containing an electrically conductive filler, the porous expanded PTFE again having a fibril length of less than 10 microns.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Soukup
- 👤 Richard A. Staley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation, wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is in the form of a helically wrapped tape and wherein adjacent edges of the helically wrapped tape are in physical contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation, wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is in the form of a helically wrapped tape and wherein adjacent edges of the helically wrapped tape are in physical contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive filler is a carbon filler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 2 wherein an additional relatively short length of a helically wound conductor coaxially covers and contacts a portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and is disposed between the at least one helically wound conductor and the layer of electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1 wherein the at least one helically wound conductor has a second length portion continuously and electrically connected to the first length portion, and further has an insulating portion wherein the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor has a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is secured to the first length portion of the helically wound conductor by a discontinuous, non-conductive thermoplastic adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is secured to the first length portion of the helically wound conductor by an electrically conductive adhesive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein the impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material is silicone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein an additional relatively short length of a helically wound conductor coaxially covers and contacts a portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and is disposed between the at least one helically wound conductor and the layer of electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein an additional helically wound conductor is coaxially disposed within the at least one helically wound conductor and electrically insulated from the at least one helically wound conductor by a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially disposed between the additional helically wound conductor and the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein the additional helically wound conductor is electrically connected to an electrically conductive component intended to transfer electrical energy to a tissue surface, the electrically conductive component being electrically insulated from the layer of electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 4 wherein an additional helically wound conductor is co-linearly disposed with the at least one helically wound conductor and electrically insulated from the at least one helically wound conductor by a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the additional helically wound conductor and a second layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein the additional helically wound conductor is electrically connected to an electrically conductive component intended to transfer electrical energy to a tissue surface, the electrically conductive component being electrically insulated from the layer of electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1 wherein an additional relatively short length of a helically wound conductor coaxially covers and contacts a portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and is disposed between the at least one helically wound conductor and the layer of electrically conductive polymeric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1 wherein the adjacent edges of the helically wrapped tape overlap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation and wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is secured to the first length portion of the helically wound conductor by a discontinuous, non-conductive thermoplastic adhesive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation and wherein the porous polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is secured to the first length portion of the helically wound conductor by a discontinuous, non-conductive thermoplastic adhesive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 13 wherein the discontinuous thermoplastic adhesive is a fluoropolymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 14 wherein the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
170 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than that about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation: wherein the at least one helically wound conductor has a second length portion continuously and electrically connected to the first length portion, and further has an insulating portion wherein the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor has a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and wherein the impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material has an exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
170 words
An implantable electrode comprising at least one helically wound conductor having a first length portion wherein a layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and containing an electrically conductive filler coaxially surrounds and contacts the first length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor, wherein said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than that about ten microns, wherein the layer of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene containing an electrically conductive filler is electrically conductive in a dry state prior to implantation: wherein the at least one helically wound conductor has a second length portion continuously and electrically connected to the first length portion, and further has an insulating portion wherein the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor has a layer of impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material coaxially covering the second length portion of the at least one helically wound conductor and wherein the impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material has an exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 16 wherein the impermeable polymeric electrically insulating material is silicone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 16 wherein the exterior coaxial covering of porous polytetrafluoroethylene is porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 18 wherein the exterior coaxial covering of porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a mean fibril length less than about 10 microns.
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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) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-09-09 | 2001-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-10 | 2004-09-09 | 2005-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-10 | 2008-09-09 | 2009-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |