Lead terminal multi-tool

• US 20060258193A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sundberg, Gregory L., Hoecke, Kyle, Fangmeier, Michelle, Johnson, Bryan D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• 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 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/22 Hand tools

Abstract

The document discusses, among other things, apparatuses, assemblies, and methods for facilitating the installation of an implantable lead into a subject. In one example, the apparatus includes a housing having a lead terminal passageway on a first end and having an introductory opening on a second end. The lead terminal passageway is adapted to be inserted over a lead terminal end. The introductory opening is adapted to accept a stylet and guide it into a pin lumen. In another example, the apparatus includes one or both of at least one protective terminal contact device and a securing contact device allowing electrical contact to be made with a lead terminal ring or a lead terminal pin without damaging or bridging between such elements of the lead terminal end. The securing contact device is also adapted to mechanically engage the lead terminal pin thereto for facilitating actuation of fixation devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing, including a lead terminal passageway on a housing first end and an introductory opening on a housing second end; and

at least one protective terminal contact device incorporated with the housing, each protective terminal contact device including an exterior electrically conductive portion and an interior electrically conductive portion.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a securing contact device incorporated with the housing, the securing contact device adapted to mechanically engage a lead terminal pin thereto.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the securing contact device is adapted to electrically engage an analyzer conductor with the lead terminal pin.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the exterior electrically conductive portion is electrically engageable with an analyzer conductor and the interior electrically conductive portion is electrically engageable with a lead terminal ring.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the introductory opening includes a first diameter, the first diameter continuously narrowing to a diameter larger than an outer diameter of a stylet.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing further includes one or more notch, the one or more notch is adapted to align with a position of a lead terminal pin when inserted into the lead terminal passageway.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the lead terminal passageway and the introductory opening communicatively couple within the housing.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one or both of the at least one protective terminal contact device and a securing contact device include a terminal contact indicator.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein one or both of the at least one protective terminal contact device and a securing contact device are radiopaque.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing first section and a housing second section, the housing second section is rotatable independent from the housing first section.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rotational handle, a rotational handle first end of the rotational handle matable with the housing.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a housing, including a lead terminal passageway insertable over a lead terminal pin and at least a portion of one or more lead terminal rings on a housing first end, and including an introductory opening on a housing second end; and

a securing contact device incorporated with the housing, the securing contact device including a first position adapted to allow the lead terminal pin to be inserted within the housing and a second position adapted to mechanically engage the lead terminal pin thereto.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one protective terminal contact device, each protective terminal contact device including an exterior electrically conductive portion and an interior electrically conductive portion.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein one or both of the securing contact device and at least one protective terminal contact device include a terminal contact indicator.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the housing further includes a housing first section and a housing second section, the housing second section rotatable independent from the housing first section.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the lead terminal passageway and the introductory opening communicatively couple within the housing.

17. An assembly comprising:

a housing, including a lead terminal passageway on a housing first end and an introductory opening on a housing second end;

at least one protective terminal contact device incorporated with the housing, each protective terminal contact device including an exterior electrically conductive portion and an interior electrically conductive portion;

a securing contact device incorporated with the housing; and

a lead extending from a lead terminal end to a lead distal end, the lead terminal end including a lead terminal pin and at least one lead terminal ring,

wherein the lead terminal passageway is insertable over at least a portion of the lead terminal end.

18. The assembly as recited in claim 17, further comprising a stylet insertable through the introductory opening.

19. The assembly as recited in claim 17, further comprising a rotational handle, a first end of the rotational handle engageable with the housing.

20. A method of using an apparatus, the method comprising:

inserting a first end of an apparatus housing over a lead terminal pin and at least a portion of one or more lead terminal rings;

advancing a stylet through a second end of the apparatus housing; and

electrically engaging an analyzer conductor with at least one of the lead terminal pin and the at least one lead terminal ring,

wherein electrically engaging the analyzer conductor includes attaching the analyzer conductor to at least one protective terminal contact device incorporated with the apparatus housing.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein electrically engaging the analyzer conductor includes attaching the analyzer conductor to a securing contact device incorporated with the apparatus housing.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising extending or retracting an active fixation mechanism located at a lead distal end,

wherein extending or retracting includes engaging the lead terminal pin with a securing contact device incorporated with the apparatus housing.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising detecting or delivering an electrical signal using one or both of the lead terminal pin and the at least one lead terminal ring.

24. A method of making an apparatus, the method comprising:

forming an apparatus housing insertable over a lead terminal end on an apparatus housing first end, and including an introductory opening on an apparatus housing second end;

incorporating a protective terminal contact device with the apparatus housing; and

incorporating a securing contact device with the apparatus housing, the securing contact device adapted to mechanically engage with a lead terminal pin.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein forming the apparatus housing includes forming a housing first section and a housing second section, the housing second section rotatable independent from the housing first section.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising forming a rotational handle adapted to engage with the apparatus housing.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising incorporating at least one terminal contact indicator with one or both of the at least one protective terminal contact device and the securing contact device.