Tissue-stimulating electrode having sealed, low-friction extendable/retractable active fixation means
First Claim
1. An electrode tip for use with a tissue-stimulating lead comprising:
- an electrode connected to a distal end of said lead;
carrier means axially inserted into a barrel of said electrode;
tissue attachment means affixed to a distal end of said carrier means for securely holding the distal end of said carrier means to desired tissue, said tissue attachment means protruding from said barrel when said carrier means assumes an extended position, and said tissue attachment means remaining inside of said barrel when said carrier means assumes a retracted position;
movement means for selectively moving the carrier means between its retracted position and its extended position; and
sealing/friction-reducing means fitted around the circumference of said carrier means for preventing fluid flow around said carrier means into a proximal end of said barrel, and for reducing friction between said carrier means and said barrel as said carrier moves between its retracted and extended positions, said sealing/friction-reducing means being axially movable with respect to both the barrel of said electrode and said carrier means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode tip (14) of a tissue-stimulating lead provides active fixation of the tip of body tissue. Tissue attachment means (34), within the electrode tip, are selectively extended so as to protrude from the tip upon application of an external force. Otherwise, biasing means (40), also within the electrode tip, urge the tissue attachment means to a retracted position within the tip. Extension and retraction of the tissue attachment means are realized through the use of a carrier bobbin (44), to one end of which the tissue attachment means are affixed. The carrier bobbin is movably inserted into a barrel (30) of the tip. An O-ring (38) placed around the circumference of the carrier bobbin, sized so as to make sealable contact with the inside barrel wall, seals the back end of the barrel and prevents fluids from flowing therein. This O-ring also rolls along the surface of the carrier bobbin and barrel wall as the bobbin moves within the barrel, thereby reducing friction associated with the movement of the bobbin. The carrier bobbin moves to its extended position upon application of an axial force. This axial force is selectively supplied by a stylet (20) that passes through a lume (56) of the lead.
146 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrode tip for use with a tissue-stimulating lead comprising:
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an electrode connected to a distal end of said lead; carrier means axially inserted into a barrel of said electrode; tissue attachment means affixed to a distal end of said carrier means for securely holding the distal end of said carrier means to desired tissue, said tissue attachment means protruding from said barrel when said carrier means assumes an extended position, and said tissue attachment means remaining inside of said barrel when said carrier means assumes a retracted position; movement means for selectively moving the carrier means between its retracted position and its extended position; and sealing/friction-reducing means fitted around the circumference of said carrier means for preventing fluid flow around said carrier means into a proximal end of said barrel, and for reducing friction between said carrier means and said barrel as said carrier moves between its retracted and extended positions, said sealing/friction-reducing means being axially movable with respect to both the barrel of said electrode and said carrier means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tissue-stimulating lead comprising:
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a flexible conductor having a proximal end adapted for connection to a tissue-stimulating device and a distal end adapted for contact with desired tissue; a stimulating tip connected to the distal end of the conductor, said stimulating tip having a barrel therein; a movable carrier bobbin inserted into said barrel; tissue attachment means affixed to one end of said carrier bobbin, said tissue attachment means protruding from said barrel whenever said carrier bobbin assumes an extended position, and said tissue attachment means remaining inside of said barrel whenever said carrier bobbin assumes a retracted position; extension means for selectively applying forces to the carrier bobbin that position said carrier bobbin in its extended position, thereby facilitating the attachment of said tissue attachment means to the desired tissue; and retraction means within said stimulating tip for continuously urging the carrier bobbin back towards its retracted position;
said retraction means helping to maintain contact between said tip electrode and the desired tissue once the desired tissue has been attached to the tissue attachment means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for attaching a tissue-stimulating lead to body tissue, said tissue-stimulating lead comprising a flexible conductor having a lumen therein, and having a tip electrode attached to a distal end thereof, and further having tissue attachment means connected to said tip, internal biasing means housed within the distal end of said lead for maintaining the tissue attachment means in a non-protruding recessed position within said tip, and means for extending said tissue attachment means to a protruding position from said tip upon application of an external force, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning the tip electrode of said lead adjacent the tissue to which it is to be attached; (b) applying an external force to the means for extending the tissue attachment means to cause said tissue attachment means to protrude from said tip; (c) affixing said protruding tissue attachment means to the body tissue; and (d) removing the external force applied in step (b), whereupon said internal biasing means helps maintain the tip electrode in contact with the attached body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification