NERVE LEAD TIE DOWN WITH BEARING

• US 20090030492A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Welty, Donnie, Byerman, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/829,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030492A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/024 having a clip or clamp system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• 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 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0582 Suture sleeves

Abstract

A lead tie-down for limiting movement of an electrical lead from an implantable medical device is disclosed. Some system embodiments include a lead assembly having an electrical lead and a stimulating electrode and a lead tie-down coupled to the electrical lead and configured for coupling to surrounding tissue. The lead tie-down permits rotational movement of the electrical lead relative to the lead tie-down. In some embodiments, the lead tie-down includes a clamping member having a bore therethrough. The bore is configured to receive an electrical lead extending from an implantable medical device and to permit rotation of the lead within the clamping member.

Claims

1. A medical device system, comprising:

a lead assembly having an electrical lead and a stimulating electrode; and

a lead tie-down coupled to the electrical lead and configured for coupling to surrounding tissue;

wherein said lead tie-down permits rotational movement of the electrical lead relative to said lead tie-down.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said lead tie-down is configured for suturing to the surrounding tissue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lead tie-down further comprises:

a clamping member having a bore therethrough; and

a bearing element;

wherein said bearing is configured to receive the electrical lead and to permit rotation of the lead within the bore relative to said clamping member.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said bearing element limits translational movement of the lead relative to the lead tie-down.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said bearing element and the electrical lead is coated with a material to further enable rotation of the lead relative to the lead tie-down.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the coating comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said bearing element is a surface of the clamping member that defines the bore.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said clamping member further comprises a hinged housing configured to open to receive said lead within the bore and to close to contain said lead within the bore.

9. A lead tie-down apparatus for an implantable medical device, comprising:

a clamping member having a bore therethrough, the bore configured to receive an electrical lead extending from an implantable medical device and to permit rotation of the lead within said clamping member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clamping member comprises a biocompatible material.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a bearing element having a surface in contact with the electrical lead, said bearing element configured to receive the electrical lead and comprises material having a friction coefficient that causes the electrical lead and said bearing element to rotate together as a single unit within the bore of said clamping member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bearing element is a surface of the clamping member that defines the bore.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said bearing element is a cylindrical sleeve inserted into the bore of said clamping member.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said bearing element comprises a slot formed along its length to enable said electrical lead to be inserted within said bearing element.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of a surface of said bearing element in contact with said clamping member and a surface of said clamping member in contact with said bearing element comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said clamping member further comprises a hinged housing configured to open to receive said electrical lead within the bore and to close to contain said lead within the bore.

17. A method, comprising:

implanting a medical device into the body of a patient;

coupling an electrical lead extending from the medical device to a target tissue in the patient'"'"'s body; and

coupling a lead tie-down to the electrical lead and to surrounding tissue;

wherein the lead tie-down permits the electrical lead to rotate relative to the lead tie-down.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said lead tie-down limits translational movement of the electrical lead relative to said tie-down.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling of the lead tie-down to the electrical lead comprises:

opening a hinged housing having a bore therethrough;

aligning the electrical lead within the bore of the hinged housing; and

closing the hinged housing to contain the electrical lead within the bore.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of inserting a sleeve into said bore and inserting said electrical lead into said sleeve.