Systems and methods for forming an end of an elongated member of an electrical stimulation system

Abstract

A method for forming a lead or lead extension having an arrangement of elongated conductors disposed in a body of a lead or lead extension includes ablating a plurality of spaced-apart channels in proximity to at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the body to expose at least part of at least one of the conductors. A C-shaped contact is disposed into each of a different one of the transverse channels. Each C-shaped contact is electrically coupled to at least one of the conductors. Each C-shaped contact is closed so that opposing ends of the C-shaped contact are adjacent to one another and aligned over one of the elongated conductors. The two opposing ends of each C-shaped contact is coupled together such that each C-shaped contact forms a continuous path around the arrangement within the transverse channel in which the C-shaped contact is disposed.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A lead comprising:
 a lead body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, an outer layer, a longitudinal length, and a circumference;   a plurality of transverse channels defined along at least one of the distal portion or the proximal portion of the lead body, the plurality of transverse channels each extending around the circumference of the lead body;   a plurality of contacts disposed along the lead body, the plurality of contacts comprising
 a plurality of cylindrical electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the lead body, and 
 a plurality of cylindrical terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the lead body, 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of contacts is formed as a C-shaped contact disposed around the circumference of the lead body within one of the plurality of transverse channels and closed with opposing ends of the C-shaped contact coupled together; 
   a plurality of conductors coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals;   a plurality of access holes defined along the plurality of transverse channels with at least one of the plurality of access holes defined within each of the plurality of transverse channels, each of the plurality of access holes individually exposing one of the plurality of conductors such that the remaining conductors are not exposed.   
     
     
         2 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing ends of the at least one C-shaped contact define a coupling aperture disposed over one of the plurality of access holes, and wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors extends through the coupling aperture and electrically couples to the at least one C-shaped contact. 
     
     
         3 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein a single conductor of the plurality of conductors electrically couples to each of the at least one C-shaped contacts. 
     
     
         4 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling aperture of the at least one C-shaped contact is disposed directly over one of the plurality of access holes. 
     
     
         5 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the number of transverse channels is equal to the number of contacts. 
     
     
         6 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one C-shaped contact has a thickness that is no greater than a depth of the transverse channel within which the at least one C-shaped contact is disposed. 
     
     
         7 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one C-shaped contact has a thickness that is no less than a depth of the transverse channel within which the at least one C-shaped contact is disposed. 
     
     
         8 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one C-shaped contact has a thickness that is equal to a depth of the transverse channel within which the at least one C-shaped contact is disposed. 
     
     
         9 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the lead is isodiametric. 
     
     
         10 . The lead of  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-lumen retention element disposed along the lead body, the multi-lumen retention element defining a plurality of conductor lumens, wherein the plurality of conductors extend within the plurality of conductor lumens. 
     
     
         11 . The lead of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced-apart transverse channels is defined along the multi-lumen retention element. 
     
     
         12 . The lead of  claim 10 , wherein each conductor of the plurality of conductors is disposed in a different conductor lumen of the multi-lumen retention element from the remaining conductors of the plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         13 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein exactly one access hole is defined in each of the plurality of transverse channels. 
     
     
         14 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of access holes extends less than a complete circumference around the lead body. 
     
     
         15 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is a C-shaped contact. 
     
     
         16 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is a C-shaped contact. 
     
     
         17 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of terminals is a C-shaped contact. 
     
     
         18 . The lead of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of terminals is a C-shaped contact. 
     
     
         19 . The lead of  claim 18 , wherein a different C-shaped contact is disposed within each transverse channel of the plurality of transverse channels. 
     
     
         20 . An electrical stimulating system comprising:
 the lead of  claim 1 ; and   a control module electrically coupleable to the plurality of electrodes of the lead, the control module comprising
 a housing, and 
 an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and 
   a connector for receiving the lead, the connector comprising
 a connector housing defining a port configured and arranged for receiving the proximal portion of the lead body of the lead, and 
 a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the plurality of connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to the plurality of terminals of the lead when the proximal portion of the lead is received by the port.