Body implantable lead

Claim 2

A body implantable lead which comprises: at least one electrical conductor means: means for connecting said electrical conductor means to a source of electrical energy; insulating means encapsulating and electrically insulating said conductor means, said insulating means being of a material which is substantially inert to body fluids and tissues; and at least one electrode means partially embedded within the surface of said insulating means and helically wrapped and electrically exposed for at least one entire turn around the periphery of said insulating means for providing an electrical contact at all situs of said electrode means at the periphery of said insulating means, said electrode means being unitary with said conductor means, the terminus of said electrode means being totally embedded within said insulating means.

Claim 3

A body implantable lead which comprises: a body member having an elongated central portion of substantially uniform cross section, a connector portion on the proximal end of said central protion and a tip portion on the distal end of said central portion, said body member being formed of an electrically insulating material which is substantially inert to body fluids and tissues; first electrical conducting means embedded within said body member and originating at said body member connector portion for connection to an external device, said first electrical conductor means extending from said body member connector portion through said body member central portion to a point adjacent said body member tip portion whereat said first electrical conductor means projects through the surface of the body member central portion and is wrapped at least once around the periphery of said body member central portion while being partially embedded within its surface such that said first electrical conductor means is electrically exposed only at the location of said wrapping and is so exposed around the entire periphery of said body member central portion, the terminus of said first electrical conductor means being totally embedded within said body member; and second electrical conductor means embedded within said body member and electrically insulated from said first electrical conductor means, said second electrical conductor means originating at said body member connector portion for connection to an external electrical device and extending from said body member connector portion through said body member central portion to a point spaced from the point at which said first electrical conductor means projects through the surface of said body member central portion whereat said second electrical conductor means projects through the surface of said body member central portion and is wrapped at least once around the periphery of said body member central portion while being partially embedded within its surface such that said second electrical conductor means is electrically exposed only at the location of said wrapping and is so exposed around the entire periphery of said body member central portion, the terminus of said second electrical conductor means being totally embedded within said body member.

Claim 4

A body implantable lead which comprises: a body member having an elongated central portion of substantially uniform cross section, a connector portion on the proximal end of said central protion and a tip portion on the distal end of said central portion, said body member being formed of an electrically insulating material which is substantially inert to body fluids and tissues; first electrical conducting means embedded within said body member and originating at said body member connector portion for connection to an external device, said first electrical conductor means extending from said body member connector portion through said body member central portion to a point adjacent said body member tip portion whereat said first electrical conductor means projects through the surface of the body member central portion and is wrapped at least once around the periphery of said body member central portion while being partially embedded within its surface such that said first electrical conductor means is electrically exposed only at the location of said wrapping and is so exposed around the entire periphery of said body member central portion, the terminus of said first electrical conductor means being totally embedded within said body member; and second electrical conductor means embedded within said body member and electrically insulated from said first electrical conductor means, said second electrical conductor means originating at said body member connector portion for connection to an external electrical device and extending from said body member connector portion through said body member central portion to a point spaced from the point at which said first electrical conductor means projects through the surface of said body member central portion whereat said second electrical conductor means projects through the surface of said body member central portion and is wrapped at least once around the periphery of said body member central portion while being partially embedded within its surface such that said second electrical conductor means is electrically exposed only at the location of said wrapping and is so exposed around the entire periphery of said body member central portion, the terminus of said second electrical conductor means being totally embedded within said body member.

Claim 5

The body implantable lead of claim 2 wherein the terminus of each of said first and second electrical conductor means are embedded within said body member at a point distal to the point at which the respective lead projects through the surface of said Body member central portion.

Claim 6

The body implantable lead of claim 2 wherein said first and second electrical conductor means are helically wrapped around the periphery of said body member central portion in a direction away from said body member connector portion.

Claim 7

A body implantable lead which comprises: first electrical conductor means; second electrical conductor means; means for connecting said first and second conductor means to a source of electrical energy; insulating means encapsulating said first and second electrical conductor means and electrically insulating them from each other, said insulating means being of a material which is substantially inert to body fluids and tissues; first electrode means unitary with said first electrical conductor means partially embedded within the surface of said insulating means and helically wrapped and electrically exposed for at least one entire turn around the periphery of said insulating means for providing an electrical contact at all situs of said electrode means at the periphery of said insulating means, the terminus of said first electrode means being totally embedded within said insulating means; and second electrode means unitary with said second electrical conductor means spaced from said first electrode means and partially embedded within the surface of said insulating means, said second electrode means being helically wrapped and electrically exposed for at least one entire turn around the periphery of said insulating means for providing an electrical contact at all situs of said second electrode means at the periphery of said insulating means, the terminus of said second electrode means being totally embedded within said insulating means.

Claim 8

A body implantable lead which comprises: first electrical conductor means; second electrical conductor means; means for connecting said first and second conductor means to a source of electrical energy; insulating means encapsulating said first and second electrical conductor means and electrically insulating them from each other, said insulating means being of a material which is substantially inert to body fluids and tissues; first electrode means unitary with said first electrical conductor means partially embedded within the surface of said insulating means and helically wrapped and electrically exposed for at least one entire turn around the periphery of said insulating means for providing an electrical contact at all situs of said electrode means at the periphery of said insulating means, the terminus of said first electrode means being totally embedded within said insulating means; and second electrode means unitary with said second electrical conductor means spaced from said first electrode means and partially embedded within the surface of said insulating means, said second electrode means being helically wrapped and electrically exposed for at least one entire turn around the periphery of said insulating means for providing an electrical contact at all situs of said second electrode means at the periphery of said insulating means, the terminus of said second electrode means being totally embedded within said insulating means.

Claim 9

The body implantable lead of claim 5 wherein said insulating means covering said first and second electrical conductor means has a substantially uniform cross section in the region at which said first and second electrode means are partially embedded therein.

Claim 10

The body implantable lead of claim 6 wherein the helix formed by said first and second electrode means extend away from their respective unitary electrical conductor means.

Claim 11

The body implantable lead of claim 7 further comprising means extending substantially the entire length of said insulating means for guiding the lead through a body vessel and into a desired location inside the body, said guiding means including means encapsulated in said insulating means and defining a lumin therethrough.

Claim 12

The body implantable lead of claim 5 wherein the helix formed by said first and second electrode means extend away from the respective unitary electrical conductor means.