TECHNIQUES FOR PLACING MEDICAL LEADS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF NERVE TISSUE

• US 20090276022A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gardeski, Kenneth C., Morris, Mary M., Scheiner, Avram, Macaulay, Patrick E., Burnes, John E., Klepfer, Ruth N.
• Application Number:
  US12/433,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276022A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• 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 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient.

Claims

3-1. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment member comprises:

a guide member; and

a medical lead advancable along the guide member.

25. A method comprising:

deploying a delivery catheter through a lumen of a blood vessel to a location proximate a target nerve tissue site outside the blood vessel;

identifying a location of the nerve tissue with respect to the blood vessel with one or more sensors connected to the delivery catheter; and

advancing an electrical stimulation electrode from the catheter through a wall of the blood vessel toward the nerve tissue.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising energizing the electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the nerve tissue.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining an efficacy of the nerve tissue stimulation.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising comparing the efficacy of the nerve tissue stimulation to a threshold efficacy.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising anchoring the electrode outside of the blood vessel adjacent the nerve tissue.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein advancing the electrical stimulation electrode through the wall of the blood vessel toward the nerve tissue comprises:

wrapping a guide member at least partially around the nerve tissue; and

advancing the electrode along the guide member.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising arranging at least one additional electrical stimulation electrode adjacent the nerve tissue such that at least two electrodes are arranged in flanking, non-contacting relationship with the nerve tissue.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one additional electrode is connected to one of an extra, intra, or transvascularly placed lead.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the nerve tissue comprises one of a vagus nerve, a hypoglossal nerve, a nerve plexus, nerve ganglia, or a vascular baroreceptor.