Axial to planar lead conversion device and method

• US 20050075707A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradley, Kerry, Meadows, Paul M., Payne, David H.
• Application Number:
  US10/943,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

An adapter is used to convert a stand-alone, percutaneous (axial) lead to a planar lead. The adapter has at least one channel for accepting at least one percutaneous lead within the at least one channel and capturing the lead, thereby transforming the stand-alone, percutaneous lead into a functional planar lead.

Claims

1. A lead adapter configured to transform at least one axial lead to a planar lead.

2. The lead adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one open channel, wherein the at least one channel is configured to hold the at least one axial lead.

3. The lead adapter of claim 2 wherein the at least one channel is configured to hold the at least one lead flush on its distal tip with one end of the channel.

4. The lead adapter of claim 2 wherein the at least one channel extends completely across the adapter from one edge to another edge.

5. The lead adapter of claim 2 wherein the at least one channel has a cross-section with an identifiable diameter.

6. The lead adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

at least two open channels, wherein the at least two channels are spaced essentially in parallel.

7. The lead adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter is at least one of solid, semi-solid, and fillable.

8. The lead adapter of claim 7 wherein the adapter is filled with at least one of a biocompatible liquid and gas.

9. The lead adapter of claim 8 wherein the adapter is filled with at least one of saline solution, oil, and air.

10. The lead adapter of claim 1 further including a placement device.

11. The lead adapter of claim 10 wherein the placement device is integral to the lead adapter.

12. The lead adapter of claim 10 wherein the placement device is optionally attachable to the lead adapter.

13. The lead adapter of claim 10 wherein the placement device includes means for securing the placement device to the lead adapter.

14. The lead adapter of claim 10 wherein the placement device is at least one of solid, semi-solid, and fillable.

15. The lead adapter of claim 14 wherein the placement device is filled with at least one of a biocompatible liquid and gas.

16. The lead adapter of claim 14 wherein the placement device is filled with at least one of saline solution, oil, and air.

17. A method of adapting a free-standing axial lead to a planar lead, the method comprising:

providing a free-standing, axial lead;

providing an adapter having at least one channel, wherein the channel is dimensioned to accept and capture the axial lead; and

inserting the axial lead into the adapter channel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the channel is an open channel.

19. A planar lead comprising:

an axial lead configured to be used as a stand-alone lead; and

an adapter having at least one channel dimensioned to accept and capture the axial lead,

wherein the axial lead is inserted into the adapter channel to provide a planar lead.

20. The planar lead of claim 19, wherein the adapter includes a second channel dimensioned to accept and capture a second axial lead.