Drug Eluting Lead Systems

• US 20110004282A1
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Tcheng, Thomas K., Chao, Daniel, Morrell, Martha J., Boling, C. Lance, Wingeier, Brett M., Pless, Benjamin D.
• Application Number:
  US12/871,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0536 Preventing neurodegenerative response or inflammatory reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2003/241 Chemical after-treatment on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2003/242 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/10 Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/10 Sintering only
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/24 After-treatment of workpieces or articles B22F3/1146 takes precedence

Abstract

Medical electrical lead systems and related methods are described. The lead systems may be configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, such as a brain of a subject. Some variations of the lead systems may comprise a lead body, an electrode connected to the lead body, and a bioactive agent. The electrode and/or lead body may comprise a substrate, and the bioactive agent may be supported by the substrate (e.g., by a substantial portion of the area of the substrate). Examples of bioactive agents that may be used in the lead system include bioactive agents that promote neural adhesion and living cells that have been biologically manipulated, engineered cells, and cells of a particular phenotype and/or adapted to induce a desired neural or glial response. Methods described herein may comprise contacting the substrate of a lead body and/or an electrode of a medical electrical lead system with at least one bioactive agent, where the lead body and the electrode are connected to each other.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body;

an electrode connected to the lead body and comprising a substrate; and

at least one bioactive agent adapted to promote neural adhesion supported by a substantial portion of the area of the first substrate of the first electrode.

2. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the lead system is configured to be at least partially implanted in a brain of a subject.

3. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is comprised of cell adhesion molecules.

4. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of plasmids, linear DNA fragments, linear RNA fragments, and growth factors.

5. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the at least one bioactive agent contacts the substrate.

6. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is in the form of a coating on the substrate.

7. The lead system of claim 1, further comprising a material that is supported by the substrate and that is different from the at least one bioactive agent.

8. The lead system of claim 7 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is dispersed in the material.

9. The lead system of claim 7 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is encapsulated in the material.

14. The lead system of claim 1 wherein the at least one bioactive agent contacts the substrate.

10. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body comprising a substrate;

an electrode connected to the lead body; and

at least one bioactive agent adapted to promote neural adhesion supported by the substrate of the lead body.

11. The lead system of claim 10 wherein the lead system is configured to be at least partially implanted in a brain of a subject.

12. The lead system of claim 10 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is comprised of cell adhesion molecules.

13. The lead system of claim 10 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of plasmids, linear DNA fragments, linear RNA fragments, and growth factors.

15. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body comprising a substrate;

an electrode connected to the lead body; and

at least one antiepileptic agent supported by the substrate of the lead body.

16. A method comprising:

at least partially implanting a lead system in neural tissue of a subject,

wherein the lead system comprises a lead body, an electrode connected to the lead body and comprising a substrate, and at least one bioactive agent adapted to promote neural adhesion supported by a substantial portion of the area of the substrate of the electrode.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the method comprises at least partially implanting the lead system in a brain of the subject.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of plasmids, linear DNA fragments, linear RNA fragments, and growth factors.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one bioactive agent contacts the substrate.

20. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body;

an electrode connected to the lead body and comprising a sintered metal characterized by a plurality of pores; and

at least one bioactive agent adapted to promote neural adhesion,

wherein the electrode acts as a reservoir for the at least one bioactive agent and the pores in the sintered metal are adapted to release the at least one bioactive agent from the reservoir into the neural tissue.

21. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body comprising a sintered metal characterized by a plurality of pores,

an electrode connected to the lead body; and

at least one bioactive agent adapted to promote neural adhesion,

wherein the lead body as a reservoir for the at least one bioactive agent and the pores in the sintered metal are adapted to release the at least one bioactive agent from the reservoir into the neural tissue.

22. A medical electrical lead system configured to be at least partially implanted in neural tissue of a subject, comprising:

a lead body;

an electrode connected to the lead body and comprising a substrate; and

at least one bioactive agent comprising living cells.

23. The medical electrical lead system of claim 22 wherein the living cells are adapted to induce a desired neural response.

24. The medical electrical lead system of claim 22 wherein the living cells are adapted to induce a desired glial response.

25. The medical lead system of claim 22 wherein the living cells are adapted to induce a desired immune response.

26. The medical lead system of claim 22 wherein the living cells are selected from the group consisting of living cells that have been biologically manipulated, engineered cells, and cells of a particular phenotype.

27. The medical lead system of claim 22 wherein the living cells comprise at least one layer on the substrate.