Directional lead assembly

Abstract

Leads having directional electrodes thereon. Also provided are leads having directional electrodes as well as retention ledges to secure the electrodes to the leads. Also provided are leads with directional electrodes where all the electrodes have the same surface area. Methods of manufacturing leads and methods of treating conditions and selectively stimulating regions of the nervous system are also provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electrical lead comprising:
 a cylindrical lead body including an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis; and   at least one row of directional electrodes disposed along the longitudinal axis of the lead body:   wherein at least one of the directional electrodes comprises (1) a raised section that has an outer surface and an inner surface and (2) a recessed section that is integral with and extends from the raised section and has an inner surface, such that a profile of the directional electrode is stepped, the recessed section anchoring the respective directional electrode to the cylindrical body, wherein the raised section and the recessed section are formed of a same material and the inner surfaces of the raised section and recessed section combine to form a non-stepped inner surface of the directional electrode having a uniform radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the lead body.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the directional electrodes comprises anchoring holes extending from an outer surface of the directional electrode that faces away from the central longitudinal axis to the inner surface of the directional electrode that faces towards the central longitudinal axis, with an anchoring material extending through the anchoring holes. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical lead of  claim 2 , wherein the anchoring holes are at least partially formed through the recessed section. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row of directional electrodes comprises two rows of directional electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical lead of  claim 4 , wherein each of the two rows of directional electrodes comprises three directional electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one unitary electrode, wherein each unitary electrode is disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the lead body. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row of directional electrodes comprises
 a first one row of directional electrodes disposed along the longitudinal axis of the lead body, the first row comprising at least two directional electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical lead body, and   a second row of directional electrodes disposed along the longitudinal axis of the lead body, the second row comprising at least two directional electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical lead body.   
     
     
         8 . The electrical lead of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one row of directional electrodes further comprises a third row of directional electrodes disposed along the longitudinal axis of the lead body, the third row comprising at least two directional electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical lead body. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the raised section has four sides and the recessed section is disposed around at least two sides of the raised section, wherein along the at least two sides of the raised section, the raised section and the recessed section have the stepped profile. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical lead of  claim 9 , wherein the recessed section is formed around at least three sides of the raised section. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical lead of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed section is formed around the four sides of the raised section. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical lead of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed section is covered by an insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . An electrical lead comprising:
 a cylindrical lead body including an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis; and   at least one row of directional electrodes disposed along the longitudinal axis of the lead body:   wherein at least one of the directional electrodes includes (a) a raised section, (b) a recessed section that is integral with and extends from the raised section such that a profile of the directional electrode is stepped, wherein the recessed section anchors the respective directional electrode to the cylindrical body, and (c) anchoring holes formed at least partly within the recessed section, wherein the raised section and the recessed section are both electrically conductive.   
     
     
         14 . The electrical lead of  claim 13 , wherein insulating material covers the recessed section and extends into and through the anchoring holes. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical lead of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one unitary electrode, wherein each unitary electrode is disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the lead body. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical lead of  claim 13 , wherein the raised section has four sides and the recessed section is disposed around at least two sides of the raised section, wherein along the at least two sides of the raised section, the raised section and the recessed section have the stepped profile. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical lead of  claim 16 , wherein the anchoring holes are distributed along each of the at least two sides of the raised section. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical lead of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one row of directional electrodes comprises two rows of directional electrodes. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical lead of  claim 18 , wherein each of the two rows of directional electrodes comprises three directional electrodes. 
     
     
         20 . The electrical lead of  claim 13 , wherein each of the directional electrodes comprises the raised section, the recessed section, and the anchoring holes.