Spinal cord stimulation lead anchor

• US 20110022143A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard B. North
• Original Assignee: Richard B. North
• Inventors: North, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is an implantable anchor for anchoring a catheter, including (by way of non-limiting example) an implantable lead, such as may be used for spinal cord stimulation, to the body of a patient, along with a method for its use. The anchor comprises an elongate body have a central lumen extending through the body from its proximal end to its distal end, which central lumen is configured to snugly receive the catheter body. In addition to the central lumen, a second lumen is provided in the proximal end of the anchor and is configured to receive an injector so that adhesive may be injected into the anchor surrounding at least a portion of the catheter body. In doing so, the anchor may be fixed to the catheter body, such that when the anchor is sutured in place within the patient'"'"'s body, migration of the catheter may be avoided.

Claims

1. An implantable anchor for anchoring a catheter to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

an anchoring sleeve body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, and a central lumen extending through said body from said proximal end to said distal end and configured to receive a catheter therein; and

a second lumen having a first end opening to the exterior of said body, and a second end opposite said first end opening to the interior of said body and intersecting said central lumen.

2. The implantable anchor of claim 1, wherein said first end of said second lumen extends away from said body in a direction generally toward said proximal end of said body.

3. The implantable anchor of claim 2, wherein a top portion of said central lumen adjacent said proximal end of said central lumen opens into a bottom portion of said second lumen adjacent said first end of said second lumen.

4. The implantable anchor of claim 2, wherein said second lumen further comprises an independent bore from said central lumen extending upward and away from said central lumen.

5. The implantable anchor of claim 1, wherein said second lumen is configured to receive an adhesive injector and to direct adhesive injected therefrom around at least a portion of a catheter positioned within said body.

6. The implantable anchor of claim 5, further comprising a central body portion situated between said proximal end and said distal end, said central body portion having a vent therein extending into said first lumen from the exterior of said body.

7. The implantable anchor of claim 6, wherein said anchor is configured to allow adhesive injected from said adhesive injector to flow around said catheter and to said vent to provide a visual indication of the presence of adhesive within said central body portion.

8. A lead assembly adapted to be implanted in and anchored to the body of a patient, comprising:

a lead having a distal end comprising one or more electrodes and a proximal end configured for attachment to an implantable medical device, and a generally cylindrical lead body extending between said distal end and said proximal end; and

a lead anchor configured for anchoring said lead to a patient'"'"'s body, said lead anchor further comprising;

an anchoring sleeve body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, and a central lumen extending through said anchoring sleeve body from said proximal end to said distal end, said central lumen having an internal diameter at least as large as an external diameter of said lead body and configured to receive said lead body therein; and

a second lumen having a first end opening to the exterior of said anchoring sleeve body, and a second end opposite said first end opening to the interior of said anchoring sleeve body and intersecting said central lumen, said second lumen having an internal diameter smaller than said external diameter of said lead body and configured to receive the tip of an adhesive injector therein.

9. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein said first end of said second lumen extends away from said anchoring sleeve body in a direction generally toward said proximal end of said anchoring sleeve body.

10. The implantable anchor of claim 9, wherein a top portion of said central lumen adjacent said proximal end of said central lumen opens into a bottom portion of said second lumen adjacent said first end of said second lumen.

11. The implantable anchor of claim 9, wherein said second lumen further comprises an independent bore from said central lumen extending upward and away from said central lumen.

12. The implantable anchor of claim 8, wherein said second lumen is configured to direct adhesive injected therefrom around at least a portion of said cylindrical lead body when said cylindrical lead body is positioned within said anchoring sleeve body.

13. The implantable anchor of claim 12, further comprising a central anchoring sleeve body portion situated between said proximal end and said distal end of said anchoring sleeve body, said central anchoring sleeve body portion having a vent therein extending into said first lumen from the exterior of said anchoring sleeve body.

14. The implantable anchor of claim 13, wherein said lead anchor is configured to allow adhesive injected from an adhesive injector to flow around said cylindrical lead body and to said vent to provide a visual indication of the presence of adhesive within said central body portion of said anchoring sleeve body.

15. A method for anchoring a catheter to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

providing a catheter having a distal free end configured for placement within a patient'"'"'s body at a location requiring treatment, and a proximal end configured for attachment to an implantable medical device, and a generally cylindrical catheter body extending between said distal end and said proximal end;

providing an implantable anchor configured for anchoring the catheter to a patient'"'"'s body, said anchor further comprising;

an anchoring sleeve body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, and a central lumen extending through said anchoring sleeve body from said proximal end to said distal end, said central lumen having an internal diameter at least as large as an external diameter of said catheter body and configured to receive said catheter body therein; and

a second lumen having a first end opening to the exterior of said anchoring sleeve body, and a second end opposite said first end opening to the interior of said anchoring sleeve body and intersecting said central lumen, said second lumen having an internal diameter smaller than said external diameter of said catheter body and configured to receive the tip of an adhesive injector therein;

inserting said distal free end of said catheter through said anchoring sleeve body from said proximal end to said distal end; and

injecting an adhesive into said second lumen so as to affix said anchoring sleeve to said catheter body.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said injecting step directs said adhesive around at least a portion of said catheter body positioned within said central lumen.

17. The method of claim 16, said anchoring sleeve further comprising a central anchoring sleeve body portion situated between said proximal end and said distal end of said anchoring sleeve body, said central anchoring sleeve body portion having a vent therein extending into said first lumen from the exterior of said anchoring sleeve body.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of continuing said injection of adhesive until said adhesive is visible in said vent.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of cutting off a portion of said second lumen after said injection step is completed.