Implantable electrical stimulation systems with shielded control module and methods for making and using

Abstract

An implantable control module for an electrical stimulation system includes a header coupled a sealed body. The header includes at least one connector assembly. The control module also includes a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly or connector assemblies of the header. The conductive shield is provided to hinder generation of current in the header or in a portion of a lead received in the header in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field. A similar shield can also be used to shield a connector assembly disposed on the end of a lead extension or any other component of the electrical stimulation system.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . An implantable control module for an electrical stimulation system, the control module comprising:
 a sealed body;   an electronic subassembly disposed in the sealed body and configured and arranged to generate electrical stimulation signals for delivery through a lead coupled to the implantable control module;   a header coupled to the sealed body, the header comprising at least one connector assembly, each connector assembly defining a port with each connector assembly configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead inserted into the port, the header further comprising a plurality of contacts disposed within each connector assembly and configured and arranged to make contact with terminals disposed on a lead when the lead and terminals are received in the connector assembly and to electrically couple the terminals of the lead to the electronic subassembly; and   a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the at least one connector assembly of the header, wherein the conductive shield is configured and arranged to hinder generation of current in the header or in a portion of a lead received in the header in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field, wherein the conductive shield comprises a metal sheet or mesh disposed external to the header and over at least a portion of the header.   
     
     
         2 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the metal sheet or mesh is disposed over all of the header. 
     
     
         3 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield consists of the mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield consists of the metal sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive shield defines at least one window in the conductive shield configured and arranged to allow viewing of a portion of the at least one connector assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The control module of  claim 1 , further comprising a conductive structure disposed on the sealed body and electrically coupled to the electronic subassembly. 
     
     
         7 . The control module of  claim 6 , wherein the conductive shield is conductively coupled to the conductive structure. 
     
     
         8 . The control module of  claim 6 , further comprising a solid dielectric material disposed between a portion of the conductive shield and a portion of the conductive structure. 
     
     
         9 . The control module of  claim 6 , further comprising a discrete capacitor coupled between the conductive shield and the conductive structure. 
     
     
         10 . An electrical stimulation system, comprising:
 the control module of  claim 1 ; and   a lead coupleable to the control module, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes configured and arranged to deliver stimulation signals generated by the control module to patient tissue.   
     
     
         11 . An implantable lead extension for an electrical stimulation system, the lead extension comprising:
 an extension body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length;   a plurality of conductive contacts disposed along the proximal end of the extension body;   a connector assembly disposed on the distal end of the extension body, the connector assembly defining at least one port configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead inserted into the port, the connector assembly further comprising a plurality of contacts disposed within the connector assembly and configured and arranged to make contact with terminals disposed on a lead when the lead and terminals are received in the connector assembly;   a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the conductive contacts along the proximal end of the extension body to the contacts of the connector assembly; and   a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly, wherein the conductive shield is configured and arranged to hinder generation of current in the connector assembly or in a portion of a lead received in the connector assembly in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field, wherein the conductive shield comprises a metal sheet or mesh disposed external to the connector assembly and over at least a portion of the connector assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The lead extension of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive shield defines at least one window in the conductive shield configured and arranged to allow viewing of a portion of the at least one connector assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The lead extension of  claim 11 , wherein the metal sheet or mesh is disposed over all of the connector assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The lead extension of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive shield consists of the mesh. 
     
     
         15 . The lead extension of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive shield consists of the metal sheet. 
     
     
         16 . An electrical stimulation system, comprising:
 the lead extension of  claim 11 ; and   a lead coupleable to the lead extension, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         17 . An implantable lead extension for an electrical stimulation system, the lead extension comprising:
 an extension body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length;   a plurality of conductive contacts disposed along the proximal end of the extension body;   a connector assembly disposed on the distal end of the extension body, the connector assembly defining at least one port configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead inserted into the port, the connector assembly further comprising a plurality of contacts disposed within the connector assembly and configured and arranged to make contact with terminals disposed on a lead when the lead and terminals are received in the connector assembly;   a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the conductive contacts along the proximal end of the extension body to the contacts of the connector assembly; and   a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly, wherein the conductive shield is configured and arranged to hinder generation of current in the connector assembly or in a portion of a lead received in the connector assembly in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field, wherein the conductive shield comprises a) at least a portion of the connector assembly that is formed of a polymer doped or impregnated with conductive particles to make the polymer conductive or b) a frequency selective surface formed on a portion of the connector assembly or on a substrate that is disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The lead extension of  claim 17 , wherein the conductive shield consists of the polymer doped or impregnated with the conductive particles. 
     
     
         19 . The lead extension of  claim 17 , wherein the conductive shield comprises the frequency selective surface that is tuned to one or more RF frequencies used in an MRI procedure to attenuate transmission of the one or more RF frequencies into the connector assembly. 
     
     
         20 . An electrical stimulation system, comprising:
 the lead extension of  claim 17 ; and   a lead coupleable to the lead extension, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes.