Expandable seal for use with medical device and system
First Claim
1. A lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart, the lead comprising:
- an electrode tip assembly including a lumen therethrough; and
a seal disposed within the lumen, the seal including expandable matrix material adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid;
the seal extending from a first end to a second end, the seal having a recess therein, where said recess is adjacent to said second end.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seal adapted for use with medical devices is provided with a lead having a distal tip electrode. The distal tip of the lead is adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The lead can include a fixation helix for securing the electrode to cardiac tissue. The lead assembly can alternatively include an open lumen lead tip. A seal is provided within the lead tip assembly such that the seal is expanded to prevent or limit further entry of fluids through the lead tip. The seal includes an expandable matrix, such as a hydrogel. The seal is formed on or within the lead when the lead and the seal comes into contact with a fluid and expands. The seal is also formed as a plug which is deployed through the medical device, and expands as the plug absorbs fluid. A housing incorporating the seal can also be attached to a portion of the medical device to provide the seal.
129 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart, the lead comprising:
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an electrode tip assembly including a lumen therethrough; and
a seal disposed within the lumen, the seal including expandable matrix material adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid;
the seal extending from a first end to a second end, the seal having a recess therein, where said recess is adjacent to said second end.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 31, 32)
a lead body having a first end and a second end;
an electrode disposed proximate the first end of the lead body;
a connector terminal disposed at the second end of the lead body, the connector terminal for connecting with a pulse generating unit;
the electrode tip assembly disposed proximate one end of the electrode;
a helix disposed within the electrode tip assembly, the helix comprising a conductor disposed in a helical shape, wherein the helix rotates around an axis of the electrode thereby placing the helix in extension and retraction;
a piston operatively coupled with the helix; and
the seal disposed on at least a portion of the piston.
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31. The lead as recited in claim 1, wherein the recess is adapted to frictionally engage an advancing tool.
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32. The lead as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end has a tapered portion.
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13. A system for delivering signals to the heart, the system comprising:
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an electronics system including a cardiac activity sensor and a signal generator for producing signals to stimulate the heart; and
a lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart and operatively coupled with the electronics system, the lead comprising;
an electrode tip assembly having a lumen therethrough; and
a seal disposed within the lumen, the seal being comprised of expandable matrix material being adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid, the seal having a first end surface positioned to couple with a removable advancing tool for positioning the seal within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart, the lead comprising:
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an electrode tip having a lumen therethrough; and
a lumen plug disposed within the lumen, the lumen plug adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid, said lumen plug having a receptacle portion which is sized to receive a removable advancing tool therein for positioning the lumen plug within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart, the lead comprising:
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an electrode tip having a lumen therethrough;
a lumen plug disposed within the lumen, the lumen plug adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid, the plug extending from a first portion of the plug to a second portion of the plug, the first portion of the plug having a tapered shape; and
the second portion of the plug comprising a receptacle end sized to receive a removable advancing tool therein.
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33. A lead comprising:
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a lead body having a first end and a second end;
a conductor disposed within the lead body, the lead body encompassing only a portion of the conductor forming an exposed conductor portion, the exposed conductor portion comprising an exposed electrode;
the conductor having a lumen therein; and
a seal disposed within the lumen, the seal including expandable matrix material adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid, the seal having a surface which couples with a removable advancing tool for positioning the seal within the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A lead adapted for implantation on or about the heart, the lead comprising:
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an electrode tip having a lumen therethrough; and
a lumen plug disposed within the lumen, the lumen plug adapted to expand in volume upon contact with fluid, said lumen plug adapted to receive an advancing tool therein;
wherein the plug extends from a first portion of the plug to a second portion of the plug, the first portion of the plug having a tapered shape, the second portion of the plug includes a recess therein.
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Specification