Paddle Leads
Paddle leads for targeted, directional stimulation
Flat, carrier-based electrode arrays that hold multiple contacts in a defined two-dimensional layout, for stable and oriented stimulation.
What they are
Paddle leads arrange contacts on a flat, flexible carrier, so the contact field keeps a defined orientation against the tissue. That makes them suited to targeted and directional stimulation, where the position and pattern of the contacts do the work.
The design space
Configurable parameters include the number of contacts and their two-dimensional arrangement, the size and shape of the paddle, directional contact patterns, cable routing and the connector. Because the contact layout is defined in the AirRay process, the paddle can be designed around your stimulation target rather than a fixed footprint.
Proven paddle designs
Alongside custom development, two paddle designs show what is possible, both created with leading laboratories and both used for recording and stimulation of the spinal cord. The AirRay Courtine 2 by 3 plus 2 Rhesus Lumbar Array, developed in cooperation with Gregoire Courtine, carries 8 contacts in a linear arrangement with an optional fixation strap. The Fetz Spinal Cord 8, developed in cooperation with the laboratory of Eberhard Fetz, carries 8 contacts in a linear arrangement.
Both are built with our AirRay technology from very soft silicone, reaching contact sizes down to 0.04 mm and thicknesses down to 0.08 mm, with the outline and contact layout shaped around your target.
How we build them
AirRay thin-film lets us place custom contact patterns in medical-grade silicone with Pt/Ir contacts, produced end to end in house. The same technology and quality system carry a paddle from prototype to a component of a full implantable system.
From standard to custom
Paddle leads are typically developed to a target rather than ordered off the shelf. Talk to us about the layout and application, and we develop the lead with you.
