Apparatus and method for fixing electrodes in a blood vessel
First Claim
1. An implantable electrical lead for locating at least one distal electrode at a desired implantation site in a body vessel having a predetermined vessel diameter of the type comprising an elongated insulated lead body extending between a proximal lead end and a distal lead end and enclosing at least one electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal lead end further comprising:
- a tubular electrode support coupled to said distal lead end having a fixed tubular support outer tall diameter and having a tubular support lumen extending between a proximal support end and a distal support end;
a first electrode coupled with said electrical conductor and supported on said tubular electrode support outer wall; and
a tubular retention stent mounted to and extending axially from said tubular electrode support, said retention stent having a retention stent lumen axially aligned with said tubular support lumen, said retention stent adapted to assume a collapsed stent state having a collapsed stent diameter smaller than the vessel diameter to enable introduction of said distal lead end to said desired implantation site and to assume an expanded stent state having an expanded stent diameter sufficient to engage the retention stent against the body vessel to inhibit movement,whereby the aligned retention stent lumen and tubular support lumen enable flow of body fluids therethrough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Endocardial implantable cardiac leads are disclosed for applying electrical stimulation to and/or sensing electrical activity of the heart at one or more distal electrode positioned at a cardiac implantation site within a cardiac vessel adjacent to and at a desired orientation to the left ventricle or atrium of the heart. The distal electrode(s) is supported by a tubular electrode support having a diameter large enough to bear against the blood vessel wall and a support lumen that allows blood to flow through it. A retention stent extends proximally from a distal stent end fixed to the tubular electrode support to a proximal stent end. After advancement to the cardiac implantation site employing a lead delivery mechanism, the retention stent is expandable from a collapsed stent state in which the outer diameter of the retention stent is less than the inner diameter of the vessel to an expanded stent state. The expanded stent is lodged against the blood vessel wall and inhibits movement of the stent and distal electrode support. The expanded stent lumen is aligned with the electrode support lumen for allowing blood to flow through the aligned electrode support lumen and expanded stent lumen. The retention stent may take any of the known forms that can be introduced in the collapsed stent state within an introducer lumen or mounted to an introducer and can either self-expand upon release in the blood vessel or be mechanically expanded within the blood vessel.
443 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable electrical lead for locating at least one distal electrode at a desired implantation site in a body vessel having a predetermined vessel diameter of the type comprising an elongated insulated lead body extending between a proximal lead end and a distal lead end and enclosing at least one electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal lead end further comprising:
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a tubular electrode support coupled to said distal lead end having a fixed tubular support outer tall diameter and having a tubular support lumen extending between a proximal support end and a distal support end; a first electrode coupled with said electrical conductor and supported on said tubular electrode support outer wall; and a tubular retention stent mounted to and extending axially from said tubular electrode support, said retention stent having a retention stent lumen axially aligned with said tubular support lumen, said retention stent adapted to assume a collapsed stent state having a collapsed stent diameter smaller than the vessel diameter to enable introduction of said distal lead end to said desired implantation site and to assume an expanded stent state having an expanded stent diameter sufficient to engage the retention stent against the body vessel to inhibit movement, whereby the aligned retention stent lumen and tubular support lumen enable flow of body fluids therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An assembly to facilitate the advancement of an electrical lead within a patient'"'"'s body to position and fix a first distal electrode of the electrical lead at a desired implantation site in an elongated body vessel, the electrical lead including a lead body extending between a proximal lead end and a distal lead end and a first lead conductor extending within said lead body between said proximal and distal lead ends and electrically connected to said first distal electrode, said arrangement comprising:
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a tubular electrode support coupled to said distal lead end having a fixed tubular support outer wall supporting said first electrode, said tubular electrode support having an outer wall diameter and having a tubular support lumen extending between a proximal support end and a distal support end; and a tubular retention stent mounted to and extending axially from said tubular electrode support, said retention stent having a retention stent lumen axially aligned with said tubular support lumen and adapted to assume a collapsed stent state having a collapsed stent diameter smaller than the vessel diameter to enable introduction of said distal lead end to said desired implantation site and to assume an expanded stent state having an expanded stent diameter sufficient to engage the retention stent against the body vessel to inhibit movement; and lead delivery means for engaging and advancing said distal lead end to the desired implantation site with said retention stent in said collapsed stent state, said lead delivery means further comprising means for effecting the expansion of said retention stent from said collapsed stent state to said expanded stent state and for releasing said distal lead end at the desired implantation site, whereby the aligned retention stent lumen and tubular support lumen enable flow of body fluids therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of advancing and fixing a first distal electrode of an electrical lead within a patient'"'"'s body at a desired implantation site in an elongated body vessel, the electrical lead including a lead body extending between a proximal lead end and a distal lead end and a first lead conductor extending within said lead body between said proximal and distal lead ends and electrically connected to said first distal electrode, said arrangement comprising:
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providing a tubular electrode support coupled to said distal lead end having a fixed tubular support outer wall supporting said first electrode, said tubular electrode support having an outer wall diameter and having a tubular support lumen extending between a proximal support end and a distal support end; providing a tubular retention stent mounted to and extending axially from said tubular electrode support, said retention stent having a retention stent lumen axially aligned with said tubular support lumen and adapted to assume a collapsed stent state having a collapsed stent diameter smaller than the vessel diameter to enable introduction of said distal lead end to said desired implantation site and to assume an expanded stent state having an expanded stent diameter sufficient to engage the retention stent against the body vessel to inhibit movement; engaging and advancing said distal lead end to the desired implantation site with said retention stent in said collapsed stent state; effecting the expansion of said retention stent from said collapsed stent state to said expanded stent state, whereby the aligned retention stent lumen and tubular support lumen enable flow of body fluids therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification