Implantable medical elongated member with adhesive elements

• US 20080103579A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to securing electrodes of a medical lead adjacent to a target tissue site. The medical lead may include at least one adhesive element disposed along a longitudinal outer surface of the lead body to adhere the adjacent tissue to the lead. Adhesive elements may be disposed proximal to, distal to, or in-between the electrodes of the lead. Each adhesive element may be inactive during lead implantation and activated by removing a covering sheath to expose the adhesive elements to moisture in the tissue or presenting an energy, e.g. ultraviolet light, to the adhesive elements. Once active, the adhesive elements secure the lead to surrounding tissue to prevent migration of the electrodes from the target tissue.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal outer surface;

at least one electrode disposed closer to the distal end of the elongated member than the proximal end of the elongated member; and

an adhesive element disposed on the outer surface of the elongated member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive element comprises a plurality of adhesive elements disposed around a circumference of the outer surface of the elongated member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sheath configured to enclose at least a portion of the elongated member and cover the adhesive element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conduit disposed within the elongated member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the conduit is configured to deliver an energy that one of activates or deactivates the adhesive element.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the energy is at least one of ultraviolet light, radio frequency energy or conductive energy.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive element is activated by moisture.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive element is disposed on the outer surface of the elongated member at a location distal to the at least one electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive element is disposed on the outer surface of the elongated member at a location proximal to the at least one electrode.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises an array of electrodes, and wherein the adhesive element is disposed between two electrodes of the array of electrodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive element comprises a material that is one of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate or fibrin glue.

12. A method comprising:

inserting a medical elongated member into a patient, wherein the elongated member comprises at least one electrode and an adhesive element disposed on a longitudinal outer surface of the elongated member;

positioning the elongated member adjacent to a target therapy delivery site; and

activating the adhesive element to secure the elongated member adjacent to the target therapy delivery site.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the elongated medical element comprises multiple adhesive elements at multiple locations along the longitudinal outer surface of the elongated member.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein activating the at least one adhesive element of the lead comprises removing a sheath that covers the adhesive element.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein removing the sheath allows moisture within at least one of a bodily fluid or body tissue to activate the at least one adhesive element.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein activating the adhesive element of the lead comprises delivering an energy to the adhesive element via at least one conduit disposed substantially longitudinally within the lead.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

delivering an energy that deactivates the adhesive element via at least one conduit disposed within the lead; and

explanting the elongated member from the patient.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising introducing a solvent into the patient to deactivate the adhesive element, wherein the solvent is configured to react with the adhesive element for deactivation.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein inserting the elongated member into the patient comprises introducing an introducer proximate to a peripheral nerve of the patient.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein inserting the introducer proximate to the peripheral nerve comprises positioning the introducer substantially transversely across an occipital nerve.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the target therapy delivery site is at least one of a sacral nerve, a pudendal nerve, a spinal cord or an occipital nerve.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

coupling the elongated member to a medical device; and

delivering electrical stimulation therapy via the medical device and elongated member.

23. A system comprising:

a medical lead comprising;

an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a longitudinal outer surface;

at least one electrode disposed closer to the distal end than the proximal end; and

an adhesive element disposed on the longitudinal outer surface of the elongated member; and

an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy to a patient via the at least one electrode of the medical lead.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a sheath that covers the elongated member, the at least one stimulation electrode, and the adhesive element until the medical lead is correctly positioned within the patient, wherein the sheath is removed from the elongated member to activate the adhesive element and secure the medical lead to a tissue within the patient.

25. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable medical elongated member configured to couple to a medical device to deliver a therapy from the medical device to a target therapy delivery site in a patient and defining a circumferential outer surface; and

an adhesive element disposed on the outer surface of the elongated member to secure the apparatus to a tissue of the patient.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the adhesive element comprises a plurality of adhesive elements disposed around an outer circumference of the longitudinal outer surface of the elongated member.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a sheath configured to receive the elongated member and cover the adhesive element.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a conduit disposed within the elongated member, wherein the conduit is sealed from the patient.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the conduit is configured to deliver an energy to activate or deactivate the adhesive element.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the adhesive element is activated by moisture.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the elongated member defines an inner lumen to deliver a fluid from the medical device to the target therapy delivery site.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the elongated member.