Body stimulation lead

• US 4,374,527 A
• Filed: 07/19/1978
• Issued: 02/22/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iversen, Alfred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/926,100
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303 R, 128/404, 128/418, 128/419 P, 128/784-785, 128/786
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

An improved body stimulation lead wherein the electrode is isolated from extraneous forces imparted to the lead body. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of lobes are formed in the lead body, the lobes being engageable with body tissue to maintain the position of the electrode and being deformable in response to extraneous forces to minimize the influence of such forces on the position of the electrode. In addition, the lead conductor is formed as a space-wound coil which provides additional stress relief. A stylet is insertable within the coil to temporarily straighten the lobes and to provide sufficient stability to the lead body for placement of the lead.

Claims

1. In a body stimulator of the type having electrode means, connector means and lead body means extending between said electrode means and connector means, said lead body means including conductor means and conductor means insulating means, the improvement wherein said lead body means comprises means for deforming in compression and elongation in response to extraneous forces imparted to said lead body means to isolate said electrode means therefrom, said deforming means comprising lobe means formed within said lead body means.

2. The lead of claim 1 wherein said lobe means are proximate to but spaced from said electrode means.

3. The lead of claim 2 wherein said lobe means comprises a plurality of lobes formed within said lead body means.

4. The lead of claim 3 wherein the lobe closest to the electrode means is no closer to the electrode means than about twenty times the diameter of the electrode body means and no further from the electrode body means than about forty times the diameter of the electrode body means.

5. The lead of claim 4 wherein said lobe closest to said electrode means is approximately 25 times the diameter of said lead means from said electrode means.

6. The lead of claim 3 wherein the lobe closest to the electrode means is no closer to the electrode means than about 2 cm and no further from the electrode means than about 4 cm.

7. The lead of claim 6 wherein said lobe closest to said electrode means is approximately 2.5 cm from said electrode means.

8. The lead of claim 2 wherein said lobe means comprises four generally semicircular lobes.

9. The lead of claim 1 wherein said deforming means further comprises space-wound coil means forming said conductor means.

10. The lead of claim 9 further comprising stylet means insertable through said coil means for temporarily straightening said lobes.

11. The lead of claim 9 wherein said lobe means are formed in said coil means.

12. The lead of claim 1 wherein said deforming means comprises space-wound coil means forming said conductor means.

13. In a body stimulator lead of the type having electrode means, connector means and lead body means extending between said electrode means and connector means, said lead body means including conductor means and conductor means insulating means, the improvement wherein said lead body means comprises strain means responsive to forces imparted to said lead body means for deforming in compression and elongation to minimize the influence of said forces on the position of said electrode means, said strain means comprising lobe means formed within said lead body means.

14. The lead of claim 13 wherein said lobe means comprises a plurality of lobes formed within said lead body means.

15. The lead of claim 14 wherein said lobe closest to said electrode means is approximately 25 times the diameter of said lead means from said electrode means.

16. The lead of claim 15 wherein said lobe closest to said electrode means is approximately 2.5 cm from said electrode means.

17. The lead of claim 13 wherein said lobe means comprises four generally semicircular lobes.

18. The lead of claim 13 wherein said strain means further comprises space-wound coil means forming said conductor means.

19. The lead of claim 18 further comprising stylet means insertable through said coil means for temporarily straightening said lobes.

20. The lead of claim 18 wherein said lobe means are formed in said coil means.

21. The lead of claim 13 wherein said lobe means comprise means for engaging body tissue to further minimize the influence of said forces on the position of said electrode means.

22. The lead of claim 13 wherein said lobe means are proximate to but spaced from said electrode means.

23. The lead of claim 22 wherein the lobe closest to the electrode means is no closer to the electrode means than about twenty times the diameter of the electrode body means and no further from the electrode body means than about forty times the diameter of the electrode body means.

24. The lead of claim 22 wherein the lobe closest to the electrode means is no closer to the electrode means than about 2 cm and no further from the electrode means than about 4 cm.

25. The lead of claim 13 wherein said strain means comprises space-wound coil means forming said conductor means.

26. In a body stimulator lead of the type having electrode means, connector means and lead body means extending between said electrode means and connector means, said lead body means including conductor means and conductor means insulating means, the improvement wherein said lead body means comprises lobe means of irregular conformation formed within said lead body means for maintaining the position of said electrode means, said lobe means comprising means for engaging body tissue to resist movement of said electrode means and further comprising means for deforming in response to an extraneous force imparted to said lead body means.

27. The lead of claim 26 wherein said love means comprises four generally semicircular lobes.

28. The lead of claim 26 wherein said lobe means are proximate to but spaced from said electrode means.

29. The lead of claim 26 wherein said lobe means comprises a plurality of lobes formed within said lead body means.