Epicardial lead having dual rotatable anchors

• US 5,330,525 A
• Filed: 04/29/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Proctor, Keith J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/055,128
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 128/642, 607/110, 607/126, 607/128, 607/129, 607/130, 607/131, 607/132
• US Class Current: 607/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

An epicardial lead having an electrode extending from the bottom thereof in combination with an anchoring system adapted to secure the lead to the heart without the use of complex procedures or tools. In a preferred embodiment the epicardial lead comprises an electrode body having two oppositely disposed arms, each arm fixed for rotation, each arm having an arcuate anchor mounted to the bottom surface, each arcuate anchor having as the center of the arcuate shape the axis of rotation of the respective arm. Rotating the arms causes each arcuate anchor to move in a circular fashion such that when each arm is moved from an open position to a closed position the respective anchor is moved to engage and move through the cardiac tissue and thereby secure the lead to the heart.

Claims

1. An epicardial lead adapted for attaching to a heart comprising:

an insulated conductor having proximal and distal ends;

an electrical connector connected to said proximal end of said conductor

a body connected to said conductor, said body including a non-conductive an electrode electrically connected to said distal end of said conductor, arm mounted to said body, said arm rotatable between a first position and a second position about a first axis, said arm having an anchor, said anchor shaped to engage said heart and attach said lead thereto when said arm is rotated from said first position to said second position.

2. A lead according to claim 1 further comprising said body having a non-conductive second arm said second arm having an anchor mounted thereto.

3. A lead according to claim 2 further comprising said body having a first surface and a second surface, said second surface being opposite said first surface, said arms mounted to said opposite surfaces of said body.

4. A lead according to claim 2 wherein said second arm rotates about a second axis, wherein said first and second said arms rotate in opposite directions to engage said heart.

5. A lead according to claim 4 wherein said first and second axes of rotation of said arms are coaxial.

6. A lead according to claim 4 further comprising each said anchor having a mounting portion and an anchoring portion, said mounting portion mounted in each said respectively arm, said anchoring portion having an arcuate shape having as its center said respective axis.

7. A device for anchoring a lead to an organ comprising:

a body, said body having a first surface and a second surface,

a first arm mounted to said first surface of said body, said first arm rotatable between an open position and a closed position about a first axis as first anchor mounted to said first arm,

a second arm mounted to said second surface of said body, said second arm rotatable between an open position and a closed position about a second axis, a second anchor mounted to said second arm,

wherein said first anchor and said second anchor are shaped to engage into said organ and anchor said lead thereto when said first arm is rotated to said closed position and said second arm is rotated to said closed position.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said first arm is rotatable about said first axis in a first direction between said open position and said closed position and said second arm is rotatable about said second axis in a second direction between said open position and said closed position wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said first axis is coaxial with said second axis.

10. A device according to claim 7 further comprising said first anchor having a first mounting portion and a first anchoring portion, said first mounting portion mounted in said first arm, said first anchoring portion having an arcuate shape having as its center said first axis.

11. A device according to claim 7 further comprising said second anchor having a second mounting portion and a second anchoring portion, said second mounting portion mounted in said second arm, said second anchoring portion having an arcuate shape having as its center said second axis.