SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL LEAD TUNNELING

• US 20070191920A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yongxing, Ley, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

An apparatus includes an elongated tube and an elongated rod having a holding member on one end, the holding member is adapted to hold an end of a lead such that the end of the lead can be pulled through the elongated tube resulting in minimal forces on the lead.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

inserting an elongated tube subcutaneously within a body; and

pulling an end of a lead through the elongated tube by pulling an elongated rod through the tube with the end of the lead mounted to a lead holding member on an end of the elongated rod.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the elongated tube includes mounting the elongated tube around a tunneling tool, inserting the tunneling tool through subcutaneous tissue, and removing the tunneling tool such that the elongated tube remains in the subcutaneous tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein pulling the lead through the elongated tube includes inserting the elongated rod through the elongated tube, the elongated rod having a first end and a second end, the second end having the holding member, and attaching the holding member to an the end of the lead and pulling the first end of the elongated rod to pull the lead through the elongated tube.

4. A method comprising:

providing an elongated tube and an elongated rod having a holding member on one end and dimensioned to fit within the elongated tube;

mounting an end of a lead to the holding member; and

pulling the lead through the elongated tube.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the holding member is removably attachable to the elongated rod.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongated tube is flexible.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongated tube is rigid.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongated tube has an internal bore diameter larger than the lead diameter.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongated tube includes a peel-away structure.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongated tube includes a coated internal surface.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the holding member is adapted to grip a terminal end of the lead.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the holding member is adapted to grip an electrode end of the lead.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein providing includes the holding member includes a biasing portion to engage an outer surface of the lead.

14. A method comprising:

mounting a tunneling rod within an elongated tube;

subcutaneously inserting the tunneling rod and elongated tube;

mounting an end of a lead to a holding member at an end of the tunneling rod; and

pulling the electrode lead through the elongated tube.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the holding member is removably attachable to the end of the tunneling rod.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein subcutaneously inserting the tunneling rod includes providing a removable tapered to tip to the end of the tunneling rod.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the elongated tube includes a peel-away structure.