Fastening device for an epicardial lead

• US 20060161237A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Cawthra, James K. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,463,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/059 Anchoring means

Abstract

An epicardial pacing lead comprising a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode coupled to the lead body near the distal end; a housing coupled to the lead body proximal to the electrode; and a platform at least partially encompassed by the housing, the platform including at least four tines, each tine adapted for engagement with the epicardium and including an upper section extending outwardly from the platform and a lower section extending distally at an angle to the upper section.

Claims

1. An epicardial pacing lead comprising:

a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrode coupled to the lead body near the distal end;

a housing coupled to the lead body proximal to the electrode; and

a platform at least partially encompassed by the housing, the platform including at least four tines, each tine adapted for engagement with the epicardium and including an upper section extending outwardly from the platform and a lower section extending distally at an angle to the upper section.

2. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 1 wherein the housing is integral with the lead body.

3. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 1 wherein the platform has a substantially annular shape and the housing has a substantially annular shape and wherein the tines are spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the lead body.

4. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 1 wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular shape and the platform has a substantially rectangular shape.

5. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 1 wherein the angle between the tine lower section and the tine upper section is approximately between about 70 and about 120 degrees.

6. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 3 wherein the ratio of the outer radius of the platform to the diameter of the lead is between about 2:

1 and about 4;

1.

7. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 1 wherein the electrode includes a distal end and wherein the distance between the platform and the electrode distal end is between approximately 0 and 10 mm.

8. An epicardial pacing lead comprising:

a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrode coupled to the lead body near the distal end; and

an attachment means for engaging the epicardium, wherein the attachment means is coupled near the electrode.

9. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 8 wherein the attachment means includes at least four tines, each tine having an upper section and a lower section.

10. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 8 wherein the attachment means comprises a housing means having a substantially rectangular shape and a platform means having a substantially rectangular shape.

11. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 8 wherein the attachment means comprises a housing means having a substantially annular shape and a platform means having a substantially annular shape, and further includes four tines, wherein the tines are spaced approximately 90 degrees apart around the lead body.

12. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 9 wherein the angle between the tine lower section and the tine upper section is approximately between about 70 and about 120 degrees.

13. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 11 wherein the ratio of the outer radius of the platform means to the diameter of the lead is between about 2:

1 and about 4;

1.

14. The epicardial pacing lead of claim 8 wherein the electrode includes a distal end and wherein the distance between the attachment means and the electrode distal end is between approximately 0 and 10 mm.

15. A method of using an epicardial pacing lead comprising:

providing an epicardial pacing lead comprising;

a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrode coupled to the lead body near the distal end;

a housing coupled to the lead body proximal to the electrode; and

a platform at least partially encompassed by the housing, the platform including at least four tines, each tine including an upper section extending outwardly from the platform and a lower section extending distally at an angle to the upper section;

inserting the platform into an attachment device having a support section and a bending section slideably engaged with the support section so that the support section holds the platform;

positioning the platform adjacent to the epicardium so that the tines are positioned to pierce the epicardium; and

actuating the bending section so that the bending section slides past the support section and forces the lower section of the tines into the epicardium, thereby attaching the platform to the epicardium.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular shape and the platform has a substantially rectangular shape.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the housing has a substantially annular shape and the platform has a substantially annular shape.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the angle between the tine lower section and the tine upper section is approximately between 70 and 120 degrees.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the ratio of the outer radius of the platform to the diameter of the lead is between about 2:

1 and 4;

1.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises positioning the platform in a removal device having a support section and a bending section slideably engaged with the support section, and actuating the bending section so that the bending section slides past the support section, creating at least one bend in the platform and thereby removing the lower section of the tines from the epicardium.