Micro lead for directional stimulation
One aspect relates to a medical electrode, having a conductor, an insulation, which surrounds the conductor at least in some sections over its entire circumference, protrusions in the insulation, electrode segments arranged between the protrusions, and insulating areas arranged between the electrode segments, wherein the electrode segments have steps, wherein the steps engage with the insulating areas.
1. A medical electrode comprising:
a cable arranged along a central longitudinal axis of the medical electrode, the cable comprising a conductor;
an insulation, which surrounds the cable at least in some sections over an entire circumference of the cable;
protrusions in the insulation extending toward an outer surface of the medical electrode thereby defining spaces between the protrusions;
electrode segments arranged directly on the insulation of the cable between the protrusions and in the spaces, the electrode segments each comprising an inner part and an outer part, the outer part comprising at least a portion of the outer surface of the medical electrode and wherein the inner part is wider than the outer part in a radial direction of the each electrode segment thereby forming a step;
wherein the protrusions extend radially outward and each protrusion has a protrusion outer surface that aligns radially with the inner part of two adjacent electrode segments thereby forming a protrusion formation between outer parts of the two adjacent electrode segments; and
insulating areas separate from the insulation surrounding the cable and arranged between the outer parts of two adjacent electrode segments and radially outside of the inner parts of two adjacent electrode segments, and the insulating areas forming a portion of the outer surface of the medical electrode, at least one insulating area overlapping the step and the inner part of at least two of the electrode segments and one protrusion such that the at least one insulating area holds the electrode segments in place.
2. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode segments comprise a plurality of electrode segments and wherein the conductor comprises a plurality of conductors, wherein different electrode segments are in each case electrically connected to different conductors.
3. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode segments have a structure configured to facilitate the connection of the conductor to an electrode segment.
4. The medical electrode according to claim 3 , wherein the structure is an opening or a groove.
5. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the conductor is connected to an electrode segment by means of a substance-to-substance bond and/or in a positive manner.
6. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating areas include a shrinkable plastic.
7. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode segments, together with the insulating areas, form a continuous surface, so that the medical electrode has an isodiametric shape at least in an area of the electrode segments.
8. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the outer part of the electrode segments furthermore has a structure, and/or has an increased roughness, wherein the structure and/or increased roughness improves the reception or output of an electrical signal.
9. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode segments are arranged and configured to improve a directional reception or output of an electrical signal.
10. The medical electrode according to claim 1 , wherein edges of the electrode segments are arranged and configured to improve the fatigue behavior of the conductor at a contact point to the electrode segments.
11. The medical electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electrode segments are arranged exclusively between the protrusions, such that no portion of the electrode segments are directly radially above the protrusions of the medical electrode.
12. The medical electrode of claim 1 , wherein the insulating areas arranged between the outer parts of two adjacent electrode segments and radially outside of the inner parts of two adjacent electrode segments are additionally configured to abut the outer part of the electrode segment such that both of the outer part of the electrode segment and the insulating areas form the outer surface of the medical electrode.
13. A process for producing the medical electrode of claim 1 comprising:
(i) providing the cable, which has the conductor and the insulation, wherein the insulation surrounds the conductor at least in some sections over its entire circumference;
(ii) partially removing the insulation, and thus forming the spaces;
(iii) providing the electrode segments, wherein the electrode segments have steps;
(iv) arranging the electrode segments in the spaces, and thus connecting the electrode segments to the insulation in a positive manner; and
(v) arranging an insulating material between two adjacent electrode segments, and thus forming the insulating areas between the adjacent two electrode segments, wherein the insulating areas engage with the steps.
14. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the process further comprises forming a structure on the outer parts of the electrode segments or roughening the outer parts of the electrode segments to improve the reception or output of an electrical signal.
15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the partial removing of the insulation and/or the forming of a structure on the outer parts of the electrode segments, and/or the roughening of the outer parts of the electrode segments, is performed using a laser.
16. The process according to claim 13 , wherein the insulating material has a shrinkable plastic.