Tissue stimulating lead and method of implantation and manufacture

• US 20070106358A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Westlund, Randy, Zarembo, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/266,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106358A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

An injectable cardiac lead for stimulating a heart includes an anchor and a tether. The anchor has first and second electrically active areas spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another. The tether has a distal end mechanically coupled to the anchor and a proximal end adapted for coupling to a cardiac rhythm management device. The tether comprises first and second electrically conductive cables electrically isolated from one another and electrically coupled to the first and second electrically active areas, respectively.

Claims

1. An injectable cardiac lead for stimulating a heart, the lead comprising:

an anchor having first and second electrically active areas spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another; and

a tether having a distal end mechanically coupled to the anchor and a proximal end adapted for coupling to a cardiac rhythm management device, wherein tether comprises first and second electrically conductive cables electrically isolated from one another and electrically coupled to the first and second electrically active areas, respectively.

2. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrically active areas comprise regions of the anchor made of an electrically conductive material.

3. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrically active areas comprise exposed portions of the cable coiled around the anchor.

4. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the anchor is flexible.

5. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the anchor is deployable from a first configuration adapted to traverse the myocardium to a second configuration adapted to resist traversing the myocardium.

6. The cardiac lead of claim 5 wherein the anchor further comprises wings deployable from a closed position in the first configuration to a open position in the second configuration.

7. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the anchor has an outer diameter of from about 0.5 to about 0.833 mm.

8. The cardiac lead of claim 1 further comprising a detachment means for detaching the distal end of the tether from the anchor.

9. The cardiac lead of claim 1 further comprising a retention feature slidably engageable with the tether.

10. An injectable cardiac lead for stimulating a heart, the lead comprising:

an anchor having a first electrically active area; and

a tether having a distal end mechanically coupled to the anchor and a proximal end adapted for coupling to a cardiac rhythm management device, wherein the tether comprises a first electrically conductive cable electrically coupled to the first electrically active area, wherein an outer diameter of the tether from the proximal end to the distal end is substantially isodiametric.

11. The cardiac lead of claim 10 wherein the outer diameter of the tether is from about 0.267 to about 1 mm.

12. The cardiac lead of claim 11 wherein the outer diameter of the tether is about 0.5 mm.

13. The cardiac lead of claim 10 wherein the anchor further comprises a second electrically active area spaced apart from and electrically isolated from the first electrically active area.

14. The cardiac lead of claim 13 wherein the tether further comprises a second electrically conductive cable electrically coupled to the second electrically active area.

15. The cardiac lead of claim 10 wherein the outer diameter of the tether is less than about half of an outer diameter of the anchor.

16. A method of implanting a lead in a heart, the method comprising:

providing a lead, the lead having,

an anchor having first and second electrically active areas spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another; and

a tether having a distal end mechanically coupled to the anchor and a proximal end adapted for coupling to a cardiac rhythm management device, wherein tether comprises first and second electrically conductive cables electrically isolated from one another and electrically coupled to the first and second electrically active areas, respectively,

engaging the anchor to a distal end of an insertion tool;

advancing the distal end of the insertion tool to the heart;

injecting the anchor into a myocardium of the heart by ejecting the anchor from the insertion tool so that the first and second electrically active areas are located within the myocardium;

withdrawing the insertion tool proximally; and

deploying the anchor to a configuration adapted to resist migration by tensioning the tether cable.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein injecting the anchor into the heart includes actuating a spring-loaded injection mechanism on the insertion tool to engage the anchor.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein injecting the anchor into the heart further comprises injecting the anchor a pre-determined distance into the heart.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein injecting the anchor into the heart comprises injecting the anchor into the myocardium a minimum distance of approximately one and a half times a length of the anchor.