Sutureless implantable medical device fixation

• US 20070255295A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren, Bonde, Eric, Stetson, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• 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 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

A device comprises a medical implant and an actively deployable clip attached to the medical implant that operates to restrict movement of the medical implant once the actively deployable clip is deployed within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical implant is an electrical lead for electrical stimulation. The actively deployable clip is operable to fixate the medical implant to a body tissue once deployed, such that the actively deployable clip performs a similar function to a suture. In this manner, embodiments of the invention may provide a medical implant that requires few or even no sutures to properly fixate the implant within the patient.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device; and

a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a retainer that retains the clip in the first shape, wherein the retainer releases the clip for deployment to the second shape in response to manipulation of the retainer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the retainer releases the clip in response to exertion of a compressive force on the retainer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the retainer releases the clip in response to exertion of a pulling force on the retainer.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the retainer releases the clip in response to cutting of the retainer.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the clip retainer includes a plurality of strands that releasably retain a portion of the clip to retain the clip in the first shape.

7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a needle attached to the clip retainer and thereby releasably attached to the clip.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the first shape is a substantially straight shape.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the second shape is a substantially curved shape.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the second shape is a spiral shape.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is a lead carrying one or more stimulation electrodes.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an electrical stimulation generator coupled to the lead.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the clip is a first clip, the system further comprising a second clip attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising tines attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an anchor disk having an aperture, wherein the clip extends through the aperture of the anchor disk.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the clip includes a wire formed from one of an elastic material or a shape memory alloy material.

18. A method comprising:

implanting an implantable medical device in a body of a patient; and

actively deploying a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising releasing the clip from a retainer for deployment to the second shape.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying a compressive force to the retainer to release the clip.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying a pulling force to the retainer to release the clip.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising cutting at least a portion of the retainer to release the clip.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the clip retainer includes a plurality of strands that releasably retain a portion of the clip to retain the clip in the first shape.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the clip retainer is attached to a needle, the method further comprising releasing the needle with the retainer.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the first shape is a substantially straight shape.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the second shape is a substantially curved shape.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the second shape is a spiral shape.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the implantable medical device is a lead carrying one or more stimulation electrodes.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising coupling an electrical stimulation generator to the lead.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the clip is a first clip, the method further comprising deploying a second clip attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising extending a portion of the clip through an aperture of an anchor disk before deploying the clip.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the clip includes a wire formed from one of an elastic material or a shape memory alloy material.