EXTENDABLE IMLPANTABLE ELONGATED MEMBER

• US 20090259282A1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Williams, Terrell M., Marshall, Mark T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,427,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

An extendable medical lead comprises a lead body and a sheath defining a cavity that encloses a length of the lead body. The length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath may be coiled or otherwise gathered such that when extended, the length of the enclosed section of the lead body is greater than the length of the sheath. The sheath may include a seal to help prevent contaminant entry into the cavity in order to help reduce tissue in growth around the length of the lead body disposed within the sheath. A portion of the length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through an aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the lead body.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

an implantable medical elongated member extending between an elongated member proximal end and an elongated member distal end;

a sheath defining a cavity and comprising a sheath proximal end and a sheath distal end, wherein a length of the elongated member is enclosed within the cavity; and

a seal coupled to at least one of the sheath distal end or the sheath proximal end, the seal defining an aperture through which the elongated member extends, wherein the seal substantially prevents contaminant entry into the cavity of the sheath, and

wherein a portion of the length of the elongated member enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through the aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the elongated member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal and sheath are substantially integral.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first diameter of the aperture is substantially equal to or less than a second diameter of the elongated member.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the length of the elongated member within the cavity is helically wound.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the helically wound section of the elongated member is friction fit with the sheath within the cavity.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a section of the length of the elongated member within the cavity is substantially non-coiled.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises silicone.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated member does not exert a restorative force after the portion of the length of the elongated member exits the cavity.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the length of the elongated member is enclosed within the sheath such that a tensile force of about 0.12 kilograms (kg) to about 2 kg applied to at least one of the distal or proximal ends of the elongated member withdraws about 2.54 cm of the elongated member from the sheath.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sheath is less than about 14 French.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the elongated member is at least about 7 centimeters long.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an implantable medical device coupled to the elongated member.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a first sheath, the cavity comprises a first cavity, and the length of the elongated member comprises a first length, the medical assembly further comprising a second sheath defining a second cavity and a sheath length, wherein a second length of the elongated member is enclosed within the cavity, the second length being greater than the sheath length.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising an electrode coupled to the elongated member between the first and second sheaths.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical elongated member comprises a first implantable medical elongated member, the length enclosed within the cavity comprises a first length, and the portion that exits the cavity through the aperture comprises a first portion, wherein the assembly further comprises a second implantable medical elongated member, wherein a second length of the second elongated member is enclosed within the cavity, and wherein a second portion of the length of the second elongated member enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through the aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the second elongated member.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical elongated member comprises a first implantable medical elongated member, the length enclosed within the cavity comprises a first length, the aperture comprises a first aperture, and the portion that exits the cavity through the first aperture comprises a first portion, wherein the assembly further comprises a second implantable medical elongated member, wherein a second length of the second elongated member is enclosed within the cavity, wherein the seal defines a second aperture through which the second implantable medical elongated member extends and wherein a second portion of the length of the second elongated member enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through the second aperture when a tensile force is applied to the second elongated member.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises at least one of a medical lead comprising an electrode or a catheter comprising a fluid delivery conduit.

18. An assembly comprising:

an elongated member extending between a elongated member distal end and a elongated member proximal end;

a sheath mechanically coupled to the elongated member proximate to the elongated member distal end, the sheath defining a cavity and a first length between a sheath distal end and a sheath proximal end, wherein a second length of the elongated member is enclosed within the cavity, the second length being greater than the first length of the sheath, and

wherein the sheath defines an aperture at the sheath proximal end, a portion of the length of the elongated member enclosed within the sheath exiting the cavity through the aperture when a tensile force is applied to the elongated member.

19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a seal mechanically coupled to the sheath proximal end, wherein the seal defines the aperture and substantially prevents contaminants from entering the cavity of the sheath.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein at least a section of the length of the elongated member within the cavity is helically wound.

21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the diameter of the sheath is less than about 14 French.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein enclosing a length of the medical elongated member within a sheath comprises coiling at least a section of the length of the medical elongated member.

22. A method comprising:

enclosing a first length of a medical elongated member within a sheath comprising a second length less than the first length of the medical elongated member; and

sealing a space between the medical elongated member and sheath to substantially prevent contaminant entry into the sheath.