Device for explanting a medical electrode device

• US 5,575,797 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Neubauer, Heinz, Guerola, Modesto, Lindegren, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/310,875
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 128/784, 128/DIG. 9, 128/785, 606/129, 606/49, 604/269
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

A device for explanting an electrode device, particularly an intravascular or intracardiac electrode device having an electrode cable and an electrode head arranged on the cable'"'"'s distal end, is capable of simply and safely detaching fibrotic matter from the entire surface of the electrode cable and electrode head. The explanting device has a stiff first sleeve, relatively short in relation to the length of the electrode cable, and whose diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter of the electrode cable. One end of the sleeve forms a cutting edge. The first sleeve is connected at its end opposite the cutting edge to a first control body in the form of a stylet with which the first sleeve can be moved along the implanted electrode device. A second sleeve, operable with another stylet, amy additionally be employed, having resilient cutting elements. The second sleeve can be slid over and past the first sleeve, causing its cutting elements to move toward each other for cutting fibrotic tissue around the top of the electrode head.

Claims

1. An explanting device for explanting an implanted electrode device, said electrode device comprising an intravascular or intracardiac electrode device having an electrode cable with a length, a diameter and a distal end, and an electrode head disposed at said distal end, said explanting device comprising:

a stiff sleeve having a length which is substantially shorter than the length of said electrode cable and a diameter which is slightly larger than said diameter of said electrode cable;

an annular cutting edge disposed at one end of said sleeve facing said distal end of said cable; and

control means, manipulatable by a user, connected at an end of said sleeve opposite said cutting edge for sliding said sleeve along an exterior of said implanted electrode device to cut fibrotic tissue.

2. An explanting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a stylet.

3. An explanting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stylet consists of stainless steel.

4. An explanting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve consists of metal.

5. An explanting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises a first sleeve and wherein said control means comprise first control means, and said explanting device further comprising:

a second sleeve slidable over said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a plurality of cutting elements disposed at an end of said second sleeve facing said distal end of said electrode cable, said cutting elements being resilient and biased to press toward said electrode cable but being forced away from said electrode cable by said first sleeve inside said second sleeve; and

second control means connected to said second sleeve at a side opposite said cutting elements and manipulatable by said user for moving said second sleeve over said first sleeve toward said distal end of said electrode cable causing said cutting elements to move toward each other for cutting fibrotic tissue surrounding said electrode head.

6. An explanting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cutting elements are evenly distributed around a circumference of said second sleeve.

7. An explanting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second control means comprises a tube.

8. An explanting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second sleeve consists of metal.

9. An explanting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said first and said second sleeve consist of metal.

10. An explanting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting elements comprise, in combination a dome and wherein said cutting elements are separated by radially proceeding spaces, said cutting elements having cutting edges surrounding said spaces.

11. An explanting device for explanting an implanted electrode device, said electrode device comprising an intravascular or intracardiac electrode device having an electrode cable with a length, a diameter and a distal end, and an electrode head disposed at said distal end, said explanting device comprising:

a stiff first sleeve having a length substantially shorter than the length of said electrode cable and having an inner diameter slightly larger than said diameter of said electrode cable, and having an outer diameter, said first sleeve having an annular cutting edge disposed at an end thereof facing said distal end of said electrode cable;

a second sleeve having a length substantially corresponding to the length of said first sleeve and having an inner diameter slightly larger than said outer diameter of said first sleeve so that said second sleeve is slidable over said first sleeve, said first sleeve having a plurality of resilient cutting elements disposed at an end thereof facing said distal end of said electrode cable, said cutting elements being biased to move toward each other but being forced apart while said second sleeve is on said first sleeve; and

control means, manipulatable by a user, for sliding said first sleeve with said second sleeve thereon along said length of said electrode cable for causing said cutting edge of said first sleeve to cut fibrotic tissue surrounding said electrode cable and for, when said first and second sleeves reach said distal end of said cable, moving said second sleeve further toward said distal end so that said cutting elements project beyond said first sleeve and are urged toward to each other for cutting fibrotic tissue surrounding said electrode head.

12. An explanting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control means comprise a stylet connected to said first sleeve and a tube connected to said second sleeve.

13. An explanting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said first sleeve and said second sleeve consist of metal.

14. An explanting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cutting elements comprise, in combination a dome and wherein said cutting elements are separated by radially proceeding spaces, said cutting elements having cutting edges surrounding said spaces.

15. A method for explanting an implanted electrode device, said electrode device including an electrode cable having a length and a diameter and a distal end and an electrode head disposed at said distal end, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a stiff sleeve with an annular cutting edge at one end thereof; and

sliding said sleeve along said length of said implanted electrode cable with said cutting edge facing said distal end of said cable and manipulating sliding of said sleeve from a proximal end of said cable for cutting fibrotic tissue surrounding said length of said cable.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising the additional steps of:

providing a further sleeve with a plurality of resilient cutting elements at one end thereof, said cutting elements being biased to move toward each other;

placing said further sleeve over said sleeve before sliding said sleeve along said cable, and thereby forcing said cutting elements apart;

sliding said further sleeve together with said first sleeve along said length of said cable while said first sleeve cuts said fibrotic tissue, until reaching said distal end of said electrode cable; and

moving said further sleeve beyond said first sleeve at said distal end so that said cutting elements project beyond said first sleeve and move together for cutting fibrotic tissue surrounding said electrode head.