Implantable medical device minimizing rotation and dislocation

• US 20070123923A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Haefner, Paul, Cates, Adam, Shiroff, Jason, Wagner, Darrell, Heil, Ronald, Lindstrom, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US11/290,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123923A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

Housings for implantable medical devices are configured so as to engage with surrounding tissues inside of a body and resist both rotation in place and movement through the body. Device housings include shapes, surface features, and/or standard surfaces and may include attached implements that engage the surrounding tissue. Shapes include elongated members, flared ends, and so forth. Surface features include pores, grooves, through-holes, and so forth. Attached implements include needles, barbs, tension springs, and so forth. Also provided are methods for engaging an implantable medical device with surrounding tissues.

Claims

1. A housing for an implantable medical device, wherein the housing is configured so as to prevent rotation and displacement of the device within a host body.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein an exterior surface of the housing is configured to include features which resist movement of the housing within the host body.

3. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise one or more concave pores into which tissues may be naturally generated.

4. The housing of claim 3, wherein an inner portion of a concave pore includes a non-smooth surface texture.

5. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise one or more through-holes through which tissue bridges may be naturally generated.

6. The housing of claim 5, wherein an inner portion of a through-hole includes a non-smooth surface texture.

7. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise one or more flared members around which tissue may be naturally generated.

8. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise one or more sintered anchors around which tissue may be naturally generated.

9. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise a plurality of elongated members that extend at angles approaching ninety degrees from each other.

10. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise a plurality of notches.

11. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise one or more loop-like raised areas around which tissue may be naturally generated.

12. The housing of claim 2, wherein the features comprise a mesh-like structure around which tissue may be naturally generated.

13. The housing of claim 1, wherein the housing is unequally weighted in order to gravitationally position and maintain the device in a preferred orientation.

14. The housing of claim 1, wherein the configured housing includes one or more implements capable of affixing to surrounding tissues.

15. The housing of claim 14, wherein the one or more implements comprises an implement capable of piercing surrounding tissues.

16. The housing of claim 15, wherein the one or more implements comprises a needle.

17. The housing of claim 15, wherein the one or more implements comprises a barb.

18. The housing of claim 14, wherein the one or more implements comprises an implement capable of grasping surrounding tissues.

19. The housing of claim 18, wherein the one or more implements capable of grasping surrounding tissues are configured to include an active spring that controls the grasping of surrounding tissue.

20. The housing of claim 14, wherein the one or more implements require manual intervention in order to affix the housing to the surrounding tissues.

21. The housing of claim 14, wherein the one or more implements affix the housing to the surrounding tissue without manual intervention.

22. The housing of claim 21, wherein the one or more implements are comprised of a heat-activated substance.

23. The housing of claim 22, wherein the heat-activated substance comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

24. A method for affixing an implantable medical device to surrounding tissue, the method comprising:

inserting the implantable device into the body of an animal; and

modifying manually a physical aspect of the device upon insertion, whereby the modification assists in affixing the implantable device to surrounding tissue.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device comprises turning a portion of the device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein turning a portion of the device engages a helix structure with surrounding tissue.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein turning a portion of the device creates notches around which encapsulating tissue may grow.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein turning a portion of the device extends a spring.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device comprises moving the device in a particular direction causing barbs to engage with surrounding tissue.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device comprises pushing a portion of the device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein pushing a portion of the device comprises advancing a stylet through the device.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein pushing a portion of the device comprises advancing a needle through the device, whereby a portion of the needle engages with surrounding tissue.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein pushing a portion of the device comprises pushing a tension spring through the device, whereby a portion of the tension spring engages with surrounding tissue.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device comprises pulling a portion of the device.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein pulling a portion of the device comprises extending a spring.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein pulling a portion of the device comprises pulling a wire.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device comprises increasing the pressure within a portion of the device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein increasing the pressure within a portion of the device comprises inflating a portion of the device.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein increasing the pressure within a portion of the device causes a plurality slits on an elastic portion to open.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of modifying a physical aspect of the device further comprises decreasing the pressure within the portion of the device.

41. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

enclosing the implantable device in a separable enclosure prior to inserting the device into the body of the animal.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the separable enclosure is comprised of a substance absorbable within the body of the animal.

43. A separable enclosure for an implantable medical device, the separable enclosure comprising a material for easing entry of the implantable medical device into a host body.

44. The separable enclosure of claim 43, the separable enclosure being comprised of a substance absorbable by the host body.

45. The separable enclosure of claim 44, wherein the substance is comprised of at least one of mannitol and polyethylene glycol.