Insertion tools and methods for an electrical stimulation implant

• US 20100036465A1
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Glukhovsky, Arkady, Zilberman, Yitzhak
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method includes inserting at least a distal end portion of an insertion tool within a body. The distal end portion of the insertion tool is coupled to an electronic implant having a stimulation portion, a terminal portion and a substantially flexible conductor disposed between the stimulation portion and the terminal portion. The distal end portion of the insertion tool is moved within the body such that the stimulation portion of the electronic implant is disposed adjacent a target location and the terminal portion of the electronic implant is disposed beneath a skin of the body.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

inserting at least a distal end portion of an insertion tool within a body, the distal end portion of the insertion tool coupled to an electronic implant, the electronic implant having a stimulation portion, a terminal portion, and a substantially flexible conductor disposed between the stimulation portion and the terminal portion; and

moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool within the body such that the stimulation portion of the electronic implant is disposed adjacent a target location and the terminal portion of the electronic implant is disposed beneath a skin of the body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes:

defining a path within the body using the insertion tool; and

moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool such that the stimulation portion of the electronic implant is disposed within the path and the terminal portion of the electronic implant is disposed within the path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool such that the stimulation portion of the electronic implant is disposed apart from the target location by a predetermined distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool such that the stimulation portion of the electronic implant is in contact with the target location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool such that the terminal portion is a predetermined depth below an outer surface of the skin of the body.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting includes inserting the insertion tool such that a longitudinal axis of the insertion tool is offset from an outer surface of the skin of the body by an angle less than 30 degrees.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target location is one of a median nerve, a peripheral nerve and a superficially located nerve.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the insertion tool includes an insertion member and a guide member;

the inserting includes inserting the insertion member of the insertion tool within the body; and

the moving the distal end portion of the insertion tool within the body includes moving the guide member along an outer surface of the skin of the body such that the insertion member is moved within the body along a predetermined path.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an implant delivery tool configured to deliver at least a portion of an electronic implant within a body, the implant delivery tool including a guide member and an insertion member coupled to the guide member,

the guide member having a distal end portion configured to contact an outer surface of a skin of the body, the distal end portion of the guide member configured to move relative to the outer surface of the skin,

the insertion member configured to deliver the portion of the electronic implant into the body when the distal end portion of the guide member is moved relative to the outer surface of the skin.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the insertion member is arcuate.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the insertion member defines a lumen configured to receive the portion of the electronic implant.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the guide member is configured to maintain the insertion member at a predetermined depth within the body.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the distal end portion of the guide member is configured to electronically stimulate a target location within the body.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the distal end portion of the guide member has a spherical shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the insertion member is configured to move relative to the guide member.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the insertion member includes a plurality of graduated markings configured to indicate a position of a distal end portion of the insertion member within the body.

17. A method, comprising:

operatively coupling an electrical device disposed outside of a body to a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode coupled to a first portion of a skin of the body, the second electrode coupled to the second portion of the skin of the body;

conveying an electrical signal from the electrical device into the body via the first electrode such that a first portion of the electrical signal travels within the body along a first path and a second portion of the electrical signal travels within the body along a second path,

the first path including the first portion of the skin, the second portion of the skin and a target location within the body, the second path including the first portion of the skin, the second portion of the skin and an electronic implant disposed within the body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the conveying includes conveying the electrical signal transcutaneously.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the target location is one of a median nerve, a peripheral nerve and a superficially located nerve.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second path includes a terminal portion of the electronic implant.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode are disposed on an outer surface of the skin directly above a terminal portion of the electronic implant.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode are disposed on an outer surface of the skin directly above the target location.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the second path includes a terminal portion of the electronic implant, the electronic implant includes a stimulation portion disposed adjacent the target location.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the first path is a first stimulation path and the second path is a second stimulation path.