Method and apparatus for subcutaneously advancing a device between locations

• US 20050161052A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Sharan, Ashwini D., Rezai, Ali R
• Granted Patent: US 7,833,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/899
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery

Abstract

A method and apparatus (10) for advancing a device (12) underneath the skin (102) in a mammalian body comprises a casing (50) made of a magnetic material. The casing (50) has a closed tip (64) at one end and an aperture (65) in an opposite end. The casing (50) includes an annular inner surface (70) that defines a cavity (76) within the casing for receiving a device (12) that projects through the aperture (65). The casing (50) further includes structure for attaching to the device (12). The casing (50) is operable to advance the device (12) through tissue (100) underlying the skin (102) in response to movement of a magnetic field across the skin.

Claims

1. An apparatus for advancing a device underneath the skin in a mammalian body, said apparatus comprising:

a casing made of a magnetic material, said casing having a closed tip at one end and an aperture in an opposite end;

said casing including an annular inner surface that defines a cavity within said casing for receiving a device that projects through said aperture;

said casing further including means for attaching to the device;

said casing being operable to advance the device through tissue underlying the skin in response to movement of a magnetic field across the skin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises an electrical lead.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a shunt catheter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said casing comprises at least two body portions that are movable relative to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least two body portions of said casing are connected to each other by a hinge.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching to the device includes at least one support extending from said inner surface of said casing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said at least one support includes an engagement pad for pressing against the device with an interference fit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching to the device includes a portion of said inner surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magnet for providing a magnetic field that is movable across the skin to cause corresponding subcutaneous movement of said casing.

10. An apparatus for subcutaneously advancing an elongated member between different locations in a mammalian body, said apparatus comprising:

a casing having a shape like a bullet and made of a magnetic material, said casing having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end being closed and forming a tip portion of said casing for tunneling through tissue underlying the skin, said second end being open to form a mouth portion of said casing;

said casing including annular inner and outer surfaces that extend between said first and seconds ends and which define a side wall portion of said casing, said inner surface further defining a cavity within said casing for receiving a distal end portion of the elongated member that projects through said mouth portion;

said inner surface including means for releasably connecting with the distal end portion of the elongated member;

said casing being operable to advance the elongated member through the tissue underlying the skin between different locations in the body in response to movement of a magnetic field across the skin extending between the locations.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said elongated member comprises an electrical lead.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said elongated member comprises a shunt catheter.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first end of said casing includes a semi-blunt tip.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein second end of said casing includes a weighted flange.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said casing comprises at least two body portions that are movable relative to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said at least two body portions of said casing are connected to each other by a hinge.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for releasably connecting to the elongated member includes at least one support extending from said inner surface of said casing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said at least one support includes an engagement pad for pressing against the elongated member with an interference fit.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for releasably connecting to the elongated member includes a portion of said inner surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a magnet for providing a magnetic field that is movable across the skin to cause corresponding subcutaneous movement of said casing.

21. A method for advancing a device underneath the skin in a mammalian body, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a casing made of a magnetic material, the casing having a closed tip at one end and connecting means for attaching to a device;

attaching the device to the casing with the connecting means;

inserting the casing underneath the skin of a mammalian body in a first location;

providing a magnetic field source and positioning the magnetic field source over the casing; and

moving the magnetic field source across the skin from the first location to a second location which causes the casing and the device attached thereto to correspondingly advance through the tissue underlying the skin to the second location.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of disconnecting the casing from the device after the device has been advanced subcutaneously from the first location to the second location.

23. A method for subcutaneously advancing an elongated member between different locations in a mammalian body, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a casing having a shape like a bullet and made of a magnetic material, the casing having oppositely disposed first and second ends, the first end being closed and forming a tip portion and the second end being open to form a mouth portion, the casing further including annular inner and outer surfaces that extend between the first and seconds ends, the inner surface defining a cavity within the casing and including means for releasably connecting with the distal end portion of the elongated member;

inserting the elongated member through the aperture in the casing and attaching the elongated member to the connecting means;

inserting the casing underneath the skin of a mammalian body in a first location;

providing a magnetic field source and positioning the magnetic field source over the casing; and

moving the magnetic field source across the skin from the first location to a second location which causes the casing and the elongated member attached thereto to correspondingly advance through the tissue underlying the skin to the second location.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of disconnecting the casing from the device after the device has been advanced subcutaneously from the first location to the second location.