Lead anchoring assembly

• US 20080196939A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gillespie, Christopher Ewan, Barker, John M., Chinn, Kenny Kinyen, Lubenow, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/652
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

An electrical lead anchoring assembly comprising a body comprising at least one recess and at least one channel therethrough for receiving at least one electrical lead, at least one arm pivotably coupled to the body and moveable between an open and a closed position wherein the arm is at least partially disposed within the recess such that the arm intrudes into the channel and frictionally abuts at least a portion of the length of electrical lead disposed in the channel to couple the lead to the body.

Claims

1. An anchoring assembly for anchoring an electrical lead having a length, the anchoring assembly comprising:

(a) a body, said body comprising

(i) an outer face,

(ii) at least one inlet,

(iii) at least one outlet,

(iv) at least one channel, said channel extending between the inlet and the outlet for receipt of at least a portion of said length of lead, and

(v) at least one recess, said recess opening into said outer face and into said channel, and

(b) at least one arm, said arm being pivotably coupled to said body and being moveable between an open and a closed position, said arm being at least partially disposed within the recess in the closed position such that the arm intrudes into the channel, and said arm being at least partially disposed outside the channel while in the open position such that said length of lead may be inserted into the inlet, through the channel, and out of the outlet when the arm is disposed in the open position, the arm frictionally abutting at least a portion of the length of lead disposed in the channel when the arm is disposed in the closed position to couple the lead to the body.

2. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein the arm is disposed in a plane that is parallel to the channel when the arm is disposed in the closed position.

3. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein the arm is disposed substantially within the recess when in the closed position such that it does not extend outside of the outer face.

4. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the inlet or the outlet comprises an aperture.

5. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein the arm further comprises at least one protrusion, said protrusion presenting a frictional face for abutting the lead when the arm is disposed in the closed position.

6. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 further comprising coupling structure, said coupling structure being adapted and disposed to pivotably secure the arm to the body.

7. The anchoring assembly of claim 6 wherein the coupling structure comprises at least one protrusion extending from at least one of the arm or the body, and at least one corresponding, second recess in the other of said arm or said body, said second recess receiving said protrusion to pivotably couple the arm to the body.

8. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one pin, said arm comprising at least one depression adapted to at least partially receive said pin to pivotably couple the arm to the body.

9. The anchoring assembly of claim 8 wherein the depression is an aperture.

10. The anchoring assembly of claim 8 wherein said pin is radiopaque.

11. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein the body comprises at least one of a bore or a well adapted to receive a suture.

12. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 further comprising a latch disposed to couple the arm to the body in the closed position.

13. The anchoring assembly of claim 12 further comprising means for providing at least one of an audible signal or tactile feedback of when the arm is moved to the closed position.

14. The anchoring assembly of claim 12 wherein the arm is sufficiently flexible such that the arm may be resiliently flexed to release said latch.

15. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of arms, and wherein the body comprises a plurality of channels adapted to receive a plurality of leads.

16. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a base formed of a first material and an overmolding disposed over the base, the overmolding comprising of a second material that is softer relative to the base.

17. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one radiopaque component.

18. The anchoring assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion is radiopaque.