NEUROSTIMULATING LEAD HAVING A STENT-LIKE ANCHOR

• US 20080183253A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bly, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

A neuron stimulating lead having a stent-like anchor is described. A distal portion of the lead is mounted to an exterior of the lead anchor. The stent-like lead anchor is formed from a superelastic material and is adapted to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration upon deployment in a vessel. In the expanded configuration, the lead anchor presses the distal portion of the lead against at least one vessel wall of a vessel in which the lead is deployed securing and stabilizing the distal portion of the lead within the vessel.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead for stimulating a nerve, wherein the lead is adapted to be delivered to a stimulation site within a vessel adjacent the nerve to be stimulated, the lead comprising:

a conductive lead body having a proximal end adapted to be connected to a pulse generator;

a distal portion including at least one electrode adapted to deliver an electrical pulse across a vessel wall; and

a lead anchor adapted to expand from a collapsed configuration to a preformed, expanded configuration, wherein in the collapsed configuration the distal portion has an effective length substantially equal to the effective length of the collapsed lead anchor and wherein the distal portion is coupled to an exterior of the lead anchor such that in the expanded configuration the lead anchor presses the distal portion of the lead against at least one vessel wall of a vessel in which the lead is deployed securing and stabilizing the distal portion of the lead within the vessel.

2. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is selected from the group consisting of an internal jugular vein, a superior vena cava, or a brachiocephalic vein, and wherein the nerve is the vagus nerve.

3. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises a superelastic material.

4. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises at least one collar secured to the distal portion of the lead.

5. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor is formed from a laser cut tube of a superelastic material and comprises at least a first end secured to the lead body and a plurality of integrally formed struts extending from the first end to a second end.

6. The medical electrical lead according to claim 5, wherein the struts include a first tapered region tapering down and connected to a first end of the anchor secured to the lead body and a second tapered region tapering down and connected to a second end of the anchor secured to the lead body.

7. The medical electrical lead according to claim 5, wherein the struts include at least one tapered region tapering down and connected to an end of the anchor secured to the lead body.

8. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises a first end radially offset from a second end.

9. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises a first end radially aligned with a second end.

10. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises a biocompatible coating.

11. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein the lead anchor comprises a polymer sleeve.

12. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein in the expanded configuration the lead anchor has an effective outer diameter ranging from about 3 to about 40 mm.

14. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1, wherein in the expanded configuration an effective outer diameter of the lead anchor is about 5 percent to about 40 percent greater than an inner diameter of the vessel in which the distal portion of the lead is deployed.

13. (canceled)

15. A medical electrical lead for stimulating a nerve from within an adjacent vessel, the lead comprising:

a proximal end adapted to be connected to a pulse generator;

a distal portion including at least one electrode adapted to deliver an electrical pulse across a vessel wall; and

a lead anchor adapted to expand from a collapsed configuration to a preformed, expanded configuration, wherein the distal portion is coupled to an exterior of the lead anchor.

16. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein an effective length of the distal portion is substantially equal to an effective length of the lead anchor when the lead anchor is in the collapsed configuration.

17. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises a superelastic material.

18. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises one or more struts, the struts including a first tapered region tapering down and connected to a first end of the anchor secured to the lead body and a second tapered region tapering down and connected to a second end of the anchor secured to the lead body.

19. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises one or more struts, the struts including a first tapered region tapering down and connected to an end of the anchor secured to the lead body.

20. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises a first end radially offset from a second end.

21. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises a first end radially aligned with a second end.

22. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises a biocompatible coating.

23. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the lead anchor comprises a polymer sleeve.

24. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein in the expanded configuration the lead anchor has an effective outer diameter ranging from about 3 to about 40 mm.

26. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein in the expanded configuration an effective outer diameter of the lead anchor is about 5 percent to about 40 percent greater than an inner diameter of the vessel in which the distal portion of the lead is deployed.

27. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15, wherein the vessel is selected from the group consisting of an internal jugular vein, a superior vena cava, and a brachiocephalic vein and wherein the nerve is the vagus nerve.

25. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)