Abstract: Defective artifact removal is described in photolithography masks corrected for optical proximity. In one example a method is described in which partitions are identified in a mask design for independent optimization. The partitions are grouped and ordering into stages. The first stage is processed. Geometries are extracted from the periphery of the first stage partitions. The extracted geometries are added to the peripheries of second stage partitions. Then the second stage partitions are processed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a stimulation system for generating and delivering electrical stimulation pulse to tissue of a patient, comprises: a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, the pulse generator comprising a housing portion and a header portion with feedthroughs extending from the housing portion into the header portion; and a stimulation lead comprising a flex film component enclosed in a lead body of insulative material, the flex film component including a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending along a substantial length of the stimulation lead, the stimulation lead further comprising a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the conductors, the flex film component comprising a proximal portion that is exposed out of the insulative material of the lead body and includes a plurality of terminal bond bands, the terminal bond bands being electrically coupled to the conductors; and wherein the header portion of the pulse generator comprises a lid component to compress the ter

Abstract: In one embodiment, a percutaneous stimulation lead for applying electrically stimulation pulses to tissue of the patient comprises: a plurality of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to a plurality of terminals through a plurality of conductors of the stimulation lead, wherein each electrode assembly is disposed in an annular manner around the lead body and each electrode assembly comprises (i) an electrode adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to tissue of a patient, (ii) an interior conductive layer, and (iii) a dielectric layer disposed between the electrode and the interior conductive layer; the electrode and interior conductive layer being capacitively coupled, the dielectric layer further comprising an inductor, the inductor being electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductors through the interior conductive layer, and the inductor being electrically coupled to the electrode.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulation of tissue of a patient, the method comprises: providing a plurality of cables, wherein each of the cables comprises a plurality of wires twisted about a core support and disposed within an outer sheath, wherein each of the plurality of wires comprises a coating of insulative material to electrically isolate each wire from each other wire within the respective cable, each of the plurality of wires being disposed in a single layer circumferentially about a central axis of the respective cable; wrapping the plurality of cables about a central core in a helical manner to form a cable assembly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: A method for forming a halftone image on recording media includes providing a recording head comprising a plurality of individually addressable recording channels. The recording head forms a plurality of image swaths, with each swath formed during a separate scan. A plurality of locations is identified within a representative unit cell of the halftone image. A quantified value for each location is determined based on a sub-scan misalignment associated with a proposed merging of two image swaths at the location corresponding to the quantified value. A merge location is selected from the plurality of locations, corresponding to a desired quantified values. The recording head forms the halftone image on the recording media while merging a first image swath and a second image swath at the selected merge location within a first unit cell of the halftone image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space, the paddle-style lead comprising: a paddle structure that comprises a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising first, second, and third longitudinal members, a distal linking portion that is mechanically coupled to the first, second, and third longitudinal members, and a proximal linking portion that is mechanically coupled to the first, second, and third longitudinal members; wherein a respective plurality of electrodes are provided for each of the first, second, and third longitudinal members, each plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to conductors of a lead body; wherein the distal and proximal linking portions are adapted to permit compression of the first and third longitudinal members toward each other and to permit the second longitudinal member to move out of plane relative to the first and third longitudinal members when a compressive force is applied to the paddle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable stimulation paddle comprises: providing a sheet of conductive material coupled to a first insulative layer; laser removing portions of the conductive material to form a pattern of conductive material, the pattern of conductive material including a plurality of isolated metal traces; providing a second insulative layer over the pattern of conductive material so that the pattern of conductive material is interposed between the first and second insulative layers; and exposing portions of the metal traces to form electrodes on the paddle for delivering electrical stimulation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a lead comprises: providing a lead body comprising a plurality of conductive wires; providing a flex film connector structure, the flex film connector structure comprising a plurality of conductive pads on a first portion of the flex film connector structure, a plurality of contacts on a second portion of the flex film connectors, and a plurality of traces electrically connecting the plurality of conductive pads with the plurality of contacts; placing the first portion of the flex film connector adjacent to a cross-section of one end of the lead body; electrically coupling the plurality of conductive pads of the flex film connector structure to the plurality of conductive wires at the one end of the lead body; and wrapping the second portion of the flex film connector structure about the lead body to form a plurality of electrical contacts.

Abstract: A method for forming an image comprising a first halftone image having a first screen angle and a second halftone image having a second screen angle. A recording head forms a plurality of image swaths. Each swath is merged with another swath at a merge line. A row of cells in the first halftone image is selected and a first sub-scan pitch of the cells in the row cells is determined. A first sub-scan spacing between two adjacent merge lines in the first group of swaths is equal to an integer multiple of a first sub-scan pitch. A row of cells in the second halftone image is selected and a second sub-scan pitch of the second cells in the row of second unit cells is determined. The recording head is reconfigured by disabling at least one of the recording channels forms the second halftone image.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable stimulation paddle comprises: providing a sheet of conductive material coupled to a first insulative layer; laser removing portions of the conductive material to form a pattern of conductive material, the pattern of conductive material including a plurality of isolated metal traces; providing a second insulative layer over the pattern of conductive material so that the pattern of conductive material is interposed between the first and second insulative layers; and exposing portions of the metal traces to form electrodes on the paddle for delivering electrical stimulation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space through an insertion tool, the paddle-style lead comprises: a paddle structure that comprises: (i) a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising a spring member adapted to bias the frame to assume a first width and a first length, the frame being adapted to elongate to assume a second width and a second length under application of a compressive force; and (ii) elastic material disposed across an interior surface area defined the frame, wherein a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of electrical traces are provided on the elastic material, wherein the plurality of electrical traces are electrically coupled to a plurality of lead conductors and the plurality of electrodes; wherein the plurality of electrical traces comprises a plurality of alternating curves that elongate when the elastic material is stretched.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space, the paddle-style lead comprising: a paddle structure that comprises a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising first, second, and third longitudinal members, a distal linking portion that is mechanically coupled to the first, second, and third longitudinal members, and a proximal linking portion that is mechanically coupled to the first, second, and third longitudinal members; wherein a respective plurality of electrodes are provided for each of the first, second, and third longitudinal members, each plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to conductors of a lead body; wherein the distal and proximal linking portions are adapted to permit compression of the first and third longitudinal members toward each other and to permit the second longitudinal member to move out of plane relative to the first and third longitudinal members when a compressive force is applied to the paddle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a paddle-style lead for implantation in the epidural space through an insertion tool, the paddle-style lead comprises: a paddle structure that comprises: (i) a frame of rigid material, the frame comprising a spring member adapted to bias the frame to assume a first width and a first length, the frame being adapted to elongate to assume a second width and a second length under application of a compressive force; and (ii) elastic material disposed across an interior surface area defined the frame, wherein a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of electrical traces are provided on the elastic material, wherein the plurality of electrical traces are electrically coupled to a plurality of lead conductors and the plurality of electrodes; wherein the plurality of electrical traces comprises a plurality of alternating curves that elongate when the elastic material is stretched.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabrication of a stimulation lead comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes for stimulation of tissue of a patient, the method comprises: providing an elongated, substantially cylindrical substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of recesses defined in an outer surface of the substrate; coating the substrate with conductive material; patterning conductive material on the substrate to form a plurality of electrode surfaces for at least the plurality of segmented electrodes and a plurality of traces connected to the plurality of electrode surfaces, wherein each electrode surface and its corresponding trace are defined in the recesses on the outer surface of the substrate and are electrically isolated from other electrode surfaces and traces; providing insulative material over at least the plurality of traces; and electrically coupling the plurality of traces to conductive wires of a lead body.

Abstract: A method for reducing visible artifacts among image pixels formed on recording media by a plurality of individually addressable recording channels includes operating the recording channels to form a plurality of image pixel arrangements, wherein each image pixel arrangement comprises a plurality of image pixel columns extending along a first direction. The image pixels columns in each image pixel arrangement are arranged along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The recording channels form a first image pixel arrangement on the recording media and overlap a first image pixel column with a second image pixel column by an amount along the second direction that is determined based at least on a misalignment along the first direction between two of the image pixel arrangements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead for stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: a lead body of insulative material; a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of terminals; a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the plurality of terminals through the plurality of conductors; wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in a helical manner in a repeating pattern of groups of conductors separated by gaps along a substantial length of the lead body, each gap being larger than an inter-conductor pitch within the groups of conductors; wherein the insulative material is a compliant material permitting elongation of the lead at low stretching forces and the insulative material of the lead body is fused through a substantial volume of the lead body and along a substantial length of the lead body.