System and method for removing implanted devices
First Claim
1. A removal system for extracting from living tissue an implanted electronic device, which may be a microstimulator or a microsensor having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, wherein said electronic device includes at least two electrodes for delivering electrical signals between the electronic device and the living tissue, said system comprising:
- at least one eyelet on said electronic device; and
a string attached to said eyelet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method of removing a miniature implantable electronic device by means of an integral eyelet or circumferential ring to facilitate removal of the implanted device without surgery. The string, if radio-opaque, provides a method of locating the miniature implantable device without surgery and attachment of one end of the string to a radio-opaque marker provides a method of locating the end of the string to facilitate non-surgical removal of the miniature implantable device from living tissue. Alternatively, the miniature implantable device may be placed in a silk tube prior to being implanted in the living tissue, to facilitate removal from the tissue. Additionally, the eyelet increases the life of the miniature implantable device, if it is made of a metal, such as platinum or iridium, which has a low metal-to-electrolyte voltage drop by virtue of improved electrical coupling to a saline solution.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A removal system for extracting from living tissue an implanted electronic device, which may be a microstimulator or a microsensor having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, wherein said electronic device includes at least two electrodes for delivering electrical signals between the electronic device and the living tissue, said system comprising:
-
at least one eyelet on said electronic device; and
a string attached to said eyelet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for inserting and removing from living tissue an implanted electronic device, which may be a microstimulator or a microsensor having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, comprising the steps of:
-
selecting a biocompatible string;
attaching said string to said electronic device;
inserting said electronic device in the living tissue through an insertion point in the skin along an insertion path;
pulling said string along said insertion path through which said electronic device was implanted;
pulling said string toward said insertion point; and
removing said electronic device from the living tissue along said insertion path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for inserting and removing from living tissue an implanted electronic device, which may be a microstimulator or a microsensor having an axial dimension of less than 60 mm and a lateral dimension of less than 6 mm, comprising the steps of:
-
selecting a biocompatible fabric tube;
placing said electronic device in said biocompatible fabric tube;
inserting said electronic device in said biocompatible fabric tube in the living tissue through an insertion point in the skin along an insertion path;
pulling said biocompatible fabric tube along said insertion path toward said insertion point through which said electronic device was implanted; and
removing said electronic device from the living tissue along said insertion path. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. An implantable device comprising:
-
a device body; and
a removal string attached to said device body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An implantable device comprising:
-
a device body; and
an eyelet attached to said device body.
-
Specification