SELECTIVE DEPTH ELECTRODE DEPLOYMENT FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

• US 20090069803A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

The invention is directed toward stimulation of a selected tissue layer. A device is attached to a target tissue by applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity of the device and advancing a needle into tissue within the vacuum cavity. The depth on the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment at the selected tissue layer. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward an implantable medical device comprising a device housing defining a vacuum cavity, and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, and a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a device housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity;

an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the device housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity; and

a lead comprising at least one conductor coupled to the electrode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising an electrical stimulator electrically coupled to the needle electrode via the lead to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, and wherein the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue.

7. A system comprising:

an electrical stimulator;

an electrode assembly comprising;

a housing defining a vacuum cavity and a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity, and

an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity; and

a lead comprising at least one conductor that electrically couples the electrical stimulator to the electrode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the lead and the electrical stimulator are fully implantable.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, wherein the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable to penetrate tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue.

13. A method comprising:

applying vacuum pressure to a vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the vacuum cavity;

advancing an electrode that is movable into the vacuum cavity of the housing to contact at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity, wherein the electrode is coupled to at least one conductor in a lead and the lead is coupled to an electrical stimulator; and

delivering electrical stimulation from the electrical stimulator to the tissue via the lead and the electrode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a depth of the vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the vacuum cavity comprises a first vacuum cavity, the housing further comprises a second vacuum cavity, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode to penetrate the tissue in at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities.

17. An implantable medical device comprising:

a device housing defining first and second vacuum cavities and one or more vacuum ports for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities; and

an electrode that is movable into at least one of the vacuum cavities of the device housing to contact the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode that is movable into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities to penetrate the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising an electrical stimulator, positioned within the device housing, that is coupled to the needle electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the first and second vacuum cavities have different depths, and wherein the different depths are selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at different, selected layers of the tissue.

22. A method comprising:

applying vacuum pressure to at least one of a first and second vacuum cavity in an electrode assembly housing to draw tissue into the respective vacuum cavity;

advancing an electrode that is movable into at least one of the first and second vacuum cavities of the housing to contact the tissue drawn into the respective vacuum cavity; and

delivering electrical stimulation to the tissue via the electrode.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrode comprises a needle electrode, and advancing comprises advancing the needle electrode into the vacuum cavity to penetrate at least a portion of the tissue drawn into the vacuum cavity.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising delivering the electrical stimulation from an electrical stimulator positioned within the housing, the electrical stimulator being coupled to the needle electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a depth of at least one of the first and second vacuum cavity is selected to permit deployment of the needle electrode at a selected layer of the tissue.