STRAIN RELIEF FEATURE FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE LEAD

• US 20130005169A1
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltis, Brian D., Tockman, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/278
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

A lead assembly for an implantable medical device includes a lead body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal end and distal end. The lead assembly also includes a strain relief tube that surrounds a portion of the lead body. The strain relief tube includes a flexible material configured to include contours such that the portion of the lead body surrounded by the strain relief tube maintains a formed shape that varies from the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The contours vary in response to forces on the lead body to prevent strain at the distal end of the lead body.

Claims

1. A lead assembly for an implantable medical device, the lead assembly comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal end and distal end; and

a strain relief tube that surrounds a portion of the lead body, the strain relief tube comprising a flexible material configured to include contours such that the portion of the lead body surrounded by the strain relief tube maintains a formed shape that varies from the longitudinal axis of the lead body, wherein the contours vary in response to forces on the lead body to prevent strain at the distal end of the lead body.

2. The lead assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief tube further comprises one or more suture elements coupled to an exterior of the strain relief tube and configured to secure the strain relief tube to adjacent tissue after shaping the strain relief tube.

3. The lead assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief tube includes preformed contours.

4. The lead assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief tube moves with respect to the lead body.

5. The lead assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain relief tube is securable to the lead body.

6. The lead assembly of claim 5, wherein the strain relief tube comprises an embedded mesh material that facilitates mechanical coupling of the strain relief tube to tissue.

7. The lead assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the lead body surrounded by the strain relief tube is proximate the distal end.

8. A lead assembly for an implantable medical device, the lead assembly comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends between the proximal end and distal end;

one or more connectors at the proximal end of the lead body that are each adapted for connection to a pulse generator;

one or more electrodes at the distal end of the lead body electrically coupled to the one or more connectors; and

a strain relief tube that surrounds a portion of the lead body, the strain relief tube comprising a flexible material configured to include contours such that the portion of the lead body surrounded by the strain relief tube maintains a shape that varies from the longitudinal axis of the lead body.

9. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein the strain relief tube further comprises one or more suture elements coupled to an exterior of the strain relief tube and configured to secure the strain relief tube to adjacent tissue after shaping the strain relief tube.

10. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein the strain relief tube includes preformed contours.

11. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein the strain relief tube moves with respect to the lead body.

12. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein the strain relief tube is securable to the lead body.

13. The lead assembly of claim 12, wherein the strain relief tube comprises an embedded mesh material that facilitates mechanical coupling of the strain relief tube to tissue.

14. The lead assembly of claim 8, wherein the portion of the lead body surrounded by the strain relief tube is proximate the distal end.

15. A strain relief element for an implantable medical device lead, the strain relief element comprising a flexible tube including a lumen configured to receive a portion of a lead body of the implantable medical device lead such that the flexible tube surrounds the portion of the lead body, the flexible tube shapeable to include contours such that the portion of the lead body surrounded by the flexible tube maintains a shape that varies from the longitudinal axis of the lead body.

16. The strain relief element of claim 15, and further comprising:

one or more suture elements coupled to an exterior of the flexible tube and configured to secure the strain relief element to adjacent tissue after shaping the flexible tube.

17. The strain relief element of claim 15, wherein the flexible tube includes preformed contours.

18. The strain relief element of claim 15, wherein the strain relief element is securable to the lead body.

19. The strain relief element of claim 18, and further comprising:

an embedded mesh material that facilitates mechanical coupling of the strain relief tube to tissue.

20. The strain relief element of claim 15, wherein the flexible tube is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyester.