Neural stimulator electrode element and lead

Claim 2

An electrode carrying tip assembly for a neural stimulator lead of the type having an interior conductor and an exterior insulating covering, comprising: a tubular insulating sheath having an interior passageway for receiving one end of ht neural stimulator lead; a generally tubular electrode element received in said passageway having an exterior surface and including an interior bore for receiving and electrically engaging the interior conductor of the neural stimulator lead when the end of the lead is received in said passageway; said insulating sheath having an opening through the side wall thereof adjacent said electrode element exposing a portion of said exterior surface of said electrode element to the exterior of said sheath; and stabilizing means for stabilizing said tip assembly within the spinal column of a patient including a pair of flexible elongate stabilization members extending outwardly from said sheath adjacent said opening, each of said members being attached to said sheath at one end and free at the other to allow flexure of said members from an extended position to a folded position adjacent and substantially parallel to the exterior of said sheath, hereby said tip assembly can be slidably mounted over the end of the neural stimulator lead and said stabilization members can be folded to said folded position to facilitate insertion of said tip assembly into the spinal column of a patient.

Claim 3

A tip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular electrode element is generally cylindrical and has an exterior diameter corresponding generally to the exterior dimension of the neural stimulator lead.

Claim 4

A tip assembly as defined inc claim 2 wherein said interior bore is of generally circular cross-section and has a diameter corresponding generally to the diameter of the interior conductor of the lead.

Claim 5

A tip assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said tubular insulating sheath is closed at one end and open at the other.

Claim 6

A tip assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said electrode element is spaced from said closed end of said insulating sheath toward said open end.

Claim 7

A tip assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said passageway is of generally circular cross-section and includes a region of relatively larger diameter adjacent said open end of said sheath and a region of relatively smaller diameter adjacent said closed end, said regions forming an interior step between said open and closed ends for indexing said electrode element to said position spaced from said closed end.

Claim 8

A tip assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said larger diameter generally corresponds to the exterior diameter of said electrode element and said smaller diameter generally corresponds to the diameter of the interior conductor.

Claim 9

A tip assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said stabilization members are mounted on said tubular insulating sheath between said opening and said closed end.

Claim 10

A tip assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said stabilization members are mounted diameterically opposite one another on said tubular insulating sheath.

Claim 11

A tip assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said stabilization members has a width which is substantially greater than its thickness, said width extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said sheath.

Claim 12

A neural stimulator lead comprising: an elongate electrical conductor having leading and trailing ends; an insulating covering over said conductor having one end spaced from the tip of said leading end in a direction toward said trailing end so as to leave an uninsulated portion of said leading end of said conductor projecting beyond said one end of said covering; a generally tubular electrode element electrically engaging a portion of said uninsulated portion of said conductor adjacent said one end of said insulating covering, said electrode element having a bore receiving said uninsulated portion of said conductor therethrough; a generally tubular insulating sheath over said leading end of said conductor enclosing said electrode element and said one end of said covering therein, said tubular insulating sheath having a passageway therein receiving said leading end and having an aperture opening into said passageway exposing a portion of said electrode element to the exterior of said sheath; and stabilizing means for stabilizing said lead within the spiral column of a patient including a pair of elongate flexible stabilization members extending outwardly from said sheath adjacent said aperture, each of said members being attached to said sheath at one end and free at the other end to allow flexure of said members from an outwardly extending position to a folded position adjacent and substantially parallel to said exterior of said sheath.

Claim 13

A neural stimulator lead comprising: an elongate electrical conductor having leading and trailing ends; an insulating covering over said conductor having one end spaced from the tip of said leading end in a direction toward said trailing end so as to leave an uninsulated portion of said leading end of said conductor projecting beyond said one end of said covering; a generally tubular electrode element electrically engaging a portion of said uninsulated portion of said conductor adjacent said one end of said insulating covering, said electrode element having a bore receiving said uninsulated portion of said conductor therethrough; a generally tubular insulating sheath over said leading end of said conductor enclosing said electrode element and said one end of said covering therein, said tubular insulating sheath having a passageway therein receiving said leading end and having an aperture opening into said passageway exposing a portion of said electrode element to the exterior of said sheath; and stabilizing means for stabilizing said lead within the spiral column of a patient including a pair of elongate flexible stabilization members extending outwardly from said sheath adjacent said aperture, each of said members being attached to said sheath at one end and free at the other end to allow flexure of said members from an outwardly extending position to a folded position adjacent and substantially parallel to said exterior of said sheath.

Claim 14

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 11 wherein said tubular electrode element is generally cylindrical and has an exterior diameter corresponding generally to the exterior dimension of said insulating covering.

Claim 15

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 12 wherein said bore is of generally circular cross-section and has a diameter corresponding generally to the cross-sectional dimension of said conductor.

Claim 16

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 13 wherein said tubular insulating sheath is closed at one end and open at the other.

Claim 17

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 14 wherein said uninsulated portion of said conductor extends fully through said interior bore such that said tip of said conductor extends beyond said electrode element.

Claim 18

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 15 wherein said passageway is of generally circular cross-section and includes a region of relatively larger diameter adjacent said open end and a region of relatively smaller diameter adjacent said closed end, said regions forming an interior step in said passageway between said ends for indexing said electrode element to a position spaced from said closed end of said tubular sheath.

Claim 19

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 16 wherein said large diameter corresponds to the exterior dimension of said insulating covering and said smaller diameter corresponds to the dimension of said conductor.

Claim 20

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 17 wherein said stabilization members are disposed between said aperture in said tubular insulating sheath and said closed end thereof.

Claim 21

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 18 wherein said stabilization members are diametrically opposed on the exterior of said tubular insulating sheath.

Claim 22

A neural stimulator lead as defined in claim 19 wherein each of said stabilization members has a width which is substantially greater than its thickness, said width extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said tubular insulating sheath.