Neural stimulating lead with stabilizing mechanism and method for using same
First Claim
1. A neural stimulating lead comprising a hollow lead body having a proximal end and a distal end portion which has a side port therein, a distal electrode assembly mounted in said distal end portion and includinga sleeve electrode, a stimulator connector mounted at said proximal end of said lead body, a wire conductor connected between said sleeve electrode and said stimulator connector and an active fixation stabilizing mechanism situated in said distal end portion and comprising stiff, but flexible, laterally projecting, vertebrum engaging means andextendable/retractable, dorsal stabilizing means comprising a stiff, but flexible, elongate member which has a proximal inner end and a distal, free end and which is movable transversely of said vertebrum engaging means through said port between a retracted position and an extended position where said free end bears against a dorsal wall of a vertebrum for anchoring said lead within an epidural space of a vertebrum of a spine, said elongate member being positioned entirely within the hollow lead body in its retracted state, and being extendible outwardly from its position within the hollow lead body through said port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neural stimulating lead including a stabilizing mechanism. The stabilizing mechanism comprises two pairs of parallel laterally projecting vanes and an extendible tine adapted to be extended to apply pressure against a dorsal surface of a vertebrum to force and hold an electrode assembly of the neural stimulating lead against a spinal cord. The tine is extendible through a port in the electrode surface from a retracted position within the lead body to an extended position by pulling on an actuating cable which is attached at one end to the tine and which has its other end extending from a connector portion on a proximal end of the lead.
175 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A neural stimulating lead comprising a hollow lead body having a proximal end and a distal end portion which has a side port therein, a distal electrode assembly mounted in said distal end portion and including
a sleeve electrode, a stimulator connector mounted at said proximal end of said lead body, a wire conductor connected between said sleeve electrode and said stimulator connector and an active fixation stabilizing mechanism situated in said distal end portion and comprising stiff, but flexible, laterally projecting, vertebrum engaging means and extendable/retractable, dorsal stabilizing means comprising a stiff, but flexible, elongate member which has a proximal inner end and a distal, free end and which is movable transversely of said vertebrum engaging means through said port between a retracted position and an extended position where said free end bears against a dorsal wall of a vertebrum for anchoring said lead within an epidural space of a vertebrum of a spine, said elongate member being positioned entirely within the hollow lead body in its retracted state, and being extendible outwardly from its position within the hollow lead body through said port.
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20. A method of using a neural stimulatng lead with an active fixation stabilizing mechanism comprising the steps of:
- feeding a lead comprising a hollow lead body having a proximal end and a distal end portion which has a side port therein, a distal electrode assembly mounted in said distal end portion and including a sleeve electrode, a stimulator connector mounted at said proximal end of said lead body, a wire conductor connected between said sleeve electrode and said stimulator connector and an active fixation stabilizing mechanism situated in said distal end portion and comprising, stiff but flexible, laterally projecting, vertebrum engaging means and extendable/retractable, dorsal stabilizing means comprising a stiff, but flexible, elongate member which has a proximal inner end and a distal free end and which is movable transversely of said vertebrum engaging means through said port between a retracted position and an extended position where said free end bears against a dorsal wall of a vertebrum for anchoring said lead within an epidural space of a vertebrum of a spine, said elongate member being positioned entirely within the hollow lead body in its retracted state, and being extendible outwardly from its position within the hollow lead body through said port, through an incision and into an epidural space or foramen of a vertebrum in such a manner that said laterally extending vertebrum engaging means lie in a horizontal plane when a patient is supine and such that said elongate member can be moved upwardly within the foramen;
positioning said sleeve electrode in a proper position; and
once said sleeve electrode is positioned, moving said elongate member an appropriate distance upwardly and outwardly of said lead body to place the distal free end of said elongate member at a position where said distal end engages and anchors itself against a dorsal wall of the vertebrum within which is it positioned.
- feeding a lead comprising a hollow lead body having a proximal end and a distal end portion which has a side port therein, a distal electrode assembly mounted in said distal end portion and including a sleeve electrode, a stimulator connector mounted at said proximal end of said lead body, a wire conductor connected between said sleeve electrode and said stimulator connector and an active fixation stabilizing mechanism situated in said distal end portion and comprising, stiff but flexible, laterally projecting, vertebrum engaging means and extendable/retractable, dorsal stabilizing means comprising a stiff, but flexible, elongate member which has a proximal inner end and a distal free end and which is movable transversely of said vertebrum engaging means through said port between a retracted position and an extended position where said free end bears against a dorsal wall of a vertebrum for anchoring said lead within an epidural space of a vertebrum of a spine, said elongate member being positioned entirely within the hollow lead body in its retracted state, and being extendible outwardly from its position within the hollow lead body through said port, through an incision and into an epidural space or foramen of a vertebrum in such a manner that said laterally extending vertebrum engaging means lie in a horizontal plane when a patient is supine and such that said elongate member can be moved upwardly within the foramen;
Specification