Implantable retention system and method

• US 20060173520A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• 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 2001/0582 Suture sleeves

Abstract

An implantable anchor for anchoring a lead or catheter relative to biological tissue, implantable system including such an anchor and a lead or catheter, and a method of use of such anchor. The anchor comprises a body having a channel adapted to receive a catheter or lead, and a cover mounted on the body for pivoting motion along a lateral axis, that is an axis that extends generally in the lateral direction perpendicular to the catheter or lead, between an open position in which the anchor is adapted to allow a lead or catheter to be placed in or moved along the channel, and a locked position in which the anchor is adapted to retain a lead or catheter within the channel.

Claims

1. An implantable anchor for anchoring a lead or catheter relative to biological tissue, the anchor comprising:

a body having a channel adapted to receive a catheter or lead, the channel defining a longitudinal axis; and

a cover mounted on the body for pivoting motion, along a lateral axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, between;

an open position in which the anchor is adapted to allow a lead or catheter to be placed in or moved along the channel, and

a locked position in which the anchor is adapted to retain a lead or catheter within the channel.

2. The implantable anchor of claim 1 further comprising a snap lock mechanism formed by the cover and body to retain the cover in the locked position.

3. The implantable anchor of claim 2 wherein the snap lock mechanism includes:

a flange on the body; and

deflectable locking arms on the cover, the deflectable locking arms being adapted to snap over the flange as the cover is moved to its locked position to retain the cover in its closed position.

4. The implantable anchor of claim 3 wherein at least one suture-receiving through hole is formed in each of the cover and the body such that the suture-receiving through hole of the cover is in alignment with the suture-receiving through hole of the body when the cover is in its locked position.

5. The implantable anchor of claim 1 wherein at least one suture-receiving annular groove is formed along the cover and the body such that the cover is adapted to be held in its locked position by tying a suture in the suture-receiving annular groove.

6. The implantable anchor of claim 1 wherein the body is formed of substantially rigid resin material, the implantable anchor further including two tubular members mounted on the body and extending longitudinally from the body in opposite directions, the tubular members being substantially elastomeric.

7. An implantable system comprising:

an elongate medical device selected from the group consisting of an implantable medical lead for electrically stimulating or sensing tissue and an implantable catheter for delivering therapeutic substances, such as drugs or biologics; and

an implantable anchor for anchoring the elongate medical device relative to the biological tissue, the anchor comprising;

a body having a channel for receiving the elongate medical device, the channel defining a longitudinal axis; and

a cover mounted on the body for pivoting motion, along a lateral axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, between;

an open position in which the anchor allows the elongate medical device to be placed in or moved along the channel, and

a locked position in which the anchor is retains the elongate medical device within the channel.

8. The implantable system of claim 7 further comprising a snap lock mechanism formed by the cover and body to retain the cover in the locked position.

9. The implantable system of claim 8 wherein the snap lock mechanism includes:

a flange on the body; and

deflectable locking arms on the cover, the deflectable locking arms being adapted to snap over the flange as the cover is moved to its locked position to retain the cover in its closed position.

10. The implantable system of claim 9 wherein at least one suture-receiving through hole is formed in each of the cover and the body such that the suture-receiving through hole of the cover is in alignment with the suture-receiving through hole of the body when the cover is in its locked position.

11. The implantable system of claim 7 wherein at least one suture-receiving annular groove is formed along the cover and the body such that the cover is adapted to be held in its locked position by tying a suture in the suture-receiving annular groove.

12. The implantable system of claim 7 wherein the body is formed of substantially rigid resin material, the implantable anchor further including two tubular members mounted on the body and extending longitudinally from the body in opposite directions, the tubular members being substantially elastomeric.

13. The implantable system of claim 7 wherein the elongate medical device is an implantable medical lead for electrically stimulating or sensing tissue.

14. The implantable system of claim 13 further comprising an implantable pulse or signal generator electrically coupled with the implantable medical lead.

15. A method of anchoring an elongate medical device to biological tissue, the method comprising:

providing an anchor having a body and a cover in which the cover is in an open position;

placing the elongate medical device in a channel defined in the body of the anchor;

pivoting the cover relative to the body, along an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate medical device, to a locked position in which the cover presses against the elongate medical device; and

suturing the anchor to biological tissue.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising locking the cover in its locked position with a snap lock mechanism formed by the cover and body.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of locking the cover in its locked position includes deflecting locking arms on the cover over a flange on the body such that the locking arms being snap over the flange as the cover is moved to its locked position.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a suture-receiving through hole of the cover is moved into alignment with a suture-receiving through hole of the body when the cover is moved to its locked position in the step of pivoting the cover relative to the body, along an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate medical device, to a locked position in which the cover presses against the elongate medical device.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of suturing the anchor to biological tissue includes tying at least one suture along a suture-receiving annular groove formed by the cover and the body such that the cover is held in its locked position by the suture.

20. An implantable anchor for anchoring an elongate medical device relative to biological tissue, the anchor comprising:

a body having receiving means for receiving the elongate medical device, the receiving means defining a longitudinal axis;

axis means for providing an axis for pivotable motion that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the receiving means; and

a cover mounted on the body via the axis means for pivoting motion between;

an open position, in which the anchor is adapted to allow the elongate medical device to be placed in or moved along the receiving means, and

a locked position in which the anchor is adapted to retain the elongate medical device within the receiving means.