Neurostimulation lead stylet handle

• US 20030135253A1
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sage, Shahn S., Kokones, Scott B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

An implantable neurological stimulation lead with improved stylet handle comprises a lead body, at least one conductor, at least one electrical contact, at least one electrode, a stylet wire, and a stylet handle. The lead body has a body proximal end, a body distal end, and a stylet lumen. The conductor is contained in the lead and extends from the body proximal end to the body distal end, and the conductor is electrically insulated. The electrical connector is carried on the body proximal end and electrically connected to the conductor. The electrode is carried on the body distal end and electrically connected to the conductor. The stylet wire is configured for insertion into the stylet lumen to stiffen the lead body. The stylet handle is selectively coupled to the stylet wire. The stylet handle has a lead carrier and at least one gripper carried in the lead carrier configured to grip the lead body at a selected point along the lead body or lead proximal end.

Claims

1. An implantable neurological stimulation lead with improved stylet handle, comprising:

a lead body having a body proximal end, a body distal end, and a stylet lumen;

at least one conductor contained in the lead body extending from the body proximal end to the body distal end, the conductor being electrically insulated;

at least one electrical connector carried on the body proximal end and electrically connected to the conductor;

at least one electrode carried on the body distal end and electrically connected to the conductor;

a stylet wire configured for insertion into the stylet lumen to stiffen the lead body; and

,

a stylet handle coupled to the stylet wire, the stylet handle having a lead carrier and at least one gripper carried in the lead carrier configured to grip the lead body at a selected point along the lead body or lead proximal end.

2. The implantable neurological stimulation lead as in claim 1, wherein the selected point is any point along the lead body other than the lead body distal end.

3. The implantable neurological stimulation lead as in claim 1, further comprising a stylet stop in the lead distal end for the stylet wire to contact before the lead body is griped in the lead carrier.

4. The implantable neurological stimulation lead as in claim 1, further comprising a stylet release in the stylet handle, the stylet release having an engaged position where the stylet wire is coupled to the stylet handle and a disengaged position where the stylet wire is decoupled from the stylet handle creating a lead opening to permit the stylet handle to be moved toward the lead distal end without being encumbered by the stylet wire.

5. An implantable neurological stimulation lead with improved stylet handle, comprising:

a lead body having a body proximal end, a body distal end, and a stylet lumen;

at least one conductor contained in the lead extending from the body proximal end to the body distal end, the conductor being electrically insulated;

at least one electrical connector carried on the body proximal end and electrically connected to the conductor;

at least one electrode carried on the body distal end and electrically connected to the conductor;

a stylet wire configured for insertion into the stylet lumen to stiffen the lead body; and

,

a means for grasping the lead body selectively coupled to the stylet wire, the means for grasping configured to grip the lead body at a selected point along the lead body or lead proximal end.

6. A stylet for an implantable neurological stimulation lead, comprising:

a stylet wire configured for insertion into a stylet lumen to stiffen a lead body; and

,

a stylet handle coupled to the stylet wire, the stylet handle having a lead carrier and at least one gripper carried in the lead carrier configured to grip the lead body at a selected point along the lead body.

7. The stylet as in claim 6, wherein the selected point is any point along the lead body other than the lead body proximal end.

8. The stylet as in claim 6, further comprising

a stylet release in the stylet handle, the stylet release having an engaged position where the stylet wire is coupled to the stylet handle and a disengaged position where the stylet wire is decoupled from the stylet handle creating a lead opening to permit the stylet handle to be moved toward the lead distal end without being encumbered by the stylet wire.

9. A stylet for an implantable neurological stimulation lead, comprising:

a stylet wire configured for insertion into a stylet lumen to stiffen a lead body; and

,

a means for grasping the lead body selectively coupled to the stylet wire, the means for grasping configured to grip the lead body at a selected point along the lead body.

10. A method for inserting a stylet in a neurological stimulation lead, comprising:

aligning a stylet wire with a stylet lumen of a lead body proximal end;

inserting the stylet wire into the stylet lumen;

stopping insertion of the stylet wire when the stylet wire contacts a stylet stop in the stylet lumen of a lead body distal end;

inserting the lead body in a stylet handle lead carrier; and

,

gripping the lead body with at least one gripper located in the stylet handle lead carrier while the stylet wire remains substantially in contact with the stylet stop in the stylet lumen in the lead body distal end.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the gripping the lead body is performed on the lead body proximal end.