Vacuum mandrel for use in fabricating an implantable electrode

Abstract

A vacuum mandrel for use in fabricating an implantable electrode comprises a hollow body member and a first groove provided radially on an outer surface of the hollow body member. The first groove is adapted to receive an implantable electrode and retain the electrode in place with a vacuum pressure during an elastomeric encapsulation of the electrode. The vacuum mandrel further comprises a vacuum port provided in the first groove.

1 . A vacuum mandrel for use in fabricating an implantable electrode, comprising: 
 a hollow body member having an outer surface;    a first groove on said outer surface, adapted to receive an electrode member; and    a vacuum port provided in said first groove.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  wherein said first groove is a spiral groove.  
   
   
       3 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of vacuum ports provided in said spiral groove.  
   
   
       4 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  further comprising a longitudinal groove portion provided at an end of said first groove.  
   
   
       5 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of second grooves provided at or near opposing ends of said first groove, each of said second grooves ending in a longitudinal groove portion.  
   
   
       6 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 5  wherein each of said second grooves is provided on said hollow body member for less than one revolution.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  further comprising a raised surface in said first groove through which said vacuum port is provided.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 7  wherein the first groove comprises a first width and the raised surface comprises a second width that is less than the first width.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 7  wherein the raised surface has a height of approximately 0.002 to 0.003 inches.  
   
   
       10 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  wherein said hollow body member comprises a distal segment and a proximal segment, and wherein said first groove is located in said distal segment.  
   
   
       11 . An electrode fabrication system, comprising: 
 the vacuum mandrel of  claim 10;     a lead;    an electrode coupled to an end of said lead, said electrode being positioned in said first groove of said vacuum mandrel;    a longitudinal groove provided along at least a portion of the distal segment of said hollow body member, in which at least a portion of the lead is positioned.    
   
   
       12 . An electrode fabrication system comprising: 
 the vacuum mandrel of  claim 1;     a vacuum source in communication with said vacuum port via said hollow body member;    an electrode positioned over said vacuum port in said first groove and retained in position through the application of vacuum pressure by said vacuum source, to thereby permit an elastomer to-be applied to said first groove to cover said electrode.    
   
   
       13 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  wherein said first groove has a width of approximately 0.053 to 0.058 inches.  
   
   
       14 . The vacuum mandrel of  claim 1  wherein said vacuum port has a diameter of approximately 0.018 inches.  
   
   
       15 . A method of making an electrode, comprising: 
 providing a mandrel comprising a first groove in an outer surface thereof, and a vacuum port in said first groove,    providing an electrode coupled to an end of a lead;    positioning said electrode in said first groove over said vacuum port; and    retaining said electrode in said first groove through vacuum pressure applied through said vacuum port; and    applying an elastomer over said conductive electrode while said electrode is retained in said first groove.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said vacuum mandrel further comprises at least one longitudinal groove formed at one end of said spiral groove, and wherein applying said elastomer comprises applying said elastomer to said and least one longitudinal groove.  
   
   
       17 . An electrode manufactured according to a method comprising: 
 locating a conductive ribbon electrode in a first groove of a hollow body member, said groove containing at least one vacuum port; and    retaining said conductive electrode in said spiral groove through vacuum pressure applied through said at least one vacuum port; and    applying an elastomer over said conductive electrode while said electrode is retained in place.    
   
   
       18 . The electrode of  claim 17  further manufactured by applying the elastomer in at least one longitudinal groove portion formed on the hollow body, the elastomer applied to said a least one longitudinal groove portion comprising a gripping surface to be used during implantation.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for holding an implantable electrode in place during a manufacturing process, comprising: 
 an elongate body having an outer surface and a hollow interior portion;    a vacuum source in fluid communication with said hollow interior portion;    a channel formed in said outer surface and extending helically about said elongate body, said channel comprising an engaging surface for engaging the implantable electrode; and    at least one bore extending between said hollow interior portion and said engaging surface of said channel such that said bore and said hollow interior portion are in fluid communication.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the channel has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the engaging surface is raised from a bottom surface of said channel.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said channel extends for approximately 2.5 turns about said outer surface.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said elongate body has a longitudinal axis and said channel has opposing ends that extend in a direction generally parallel to the axis.