Spinal Cord Stimulation Lead with Curved Profile and Angled Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical electrical leads for spinal cord stimulation lack secure fit and intimate contact with the dura mater surrounding the spinal cord, limiting effective pain-relieving stimulation patterns without the need for physical repositioning.

Innovation Solution

A medical electrical lead design featuring a distal portion with a pre-formed profile and angled electrode surfaces, coupled to conductive rings and insulated conductors, which conforms to the spinal cord and ensures intimate contact with the dura mater, allowing for efficient stimulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional lead design is used, then the lead can be implanted in the epidural space, but it does not fit securely or conform to the spinal cord, resulting in poor electrode contact with the dura mater

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode contact reliabilityVSAvoidlead positioning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The distal portion of the lead is formed with a pre-formed curved profile that matches the natural curvature of the spinal cord. This curvature enables the lead to conform to the spinal cord anatomy, ensuring secure fit and intimate electrode contact with the dura mater without requiring complex positioning procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrodes are positioned at angled orientations relative to the longitudinal axis of the lead body. This local angular orientation optimizes electrode contact with the dura mater at specific locations along the spinal cord, improving stimulation effectiveness while maintaining overall lead stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lead does not conform to the spinal cord, then implantation is simpler, but the electrodes cannot maintain intimate contact with the dura mater, limiting stimulation effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestimulation pattern flexibilityVSAvoiddistal end profile precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The distal portion of the lead is pre-formed with the appropriate curved profile during manufacturing, before implantation. This preliminary shaping ensures that the lead will naturally conform to the spinal cord anatomy upon implantation, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative positioning while ensuring optimal electrode contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electrodes are arranged in an asymmetric pattern with different angular orientations relative to the lead body axis. This asymmetric configuration allows different electrodes to contact the dura mater at optimal angles, providing versatile stimulation patterns while maintaining a simple pre-formed lead structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS8694126B2Medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation

Publication Date: 2014.04.08 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

A medical electrical lead for spinal cord stimulation includes a first column of electrode surfaces and a second columns of electrode surfaces extending alongside and spaced apart from the first column.