Burr hole cap for fixation of cranial lead

• US 6,321,104 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elands, W A. J., Gielen, Frans L. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US09/186,491
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 606/129, 606/130, 600/378
• US Class Current: 600/378
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole

Abstract

A system and method are provided for anchoring a cranial lead or catheter member within a cranial burr hole in a patient, utilizing a feed-through subassembly which permits a lead to be eccentrically positioned with respect to the center of the burr hole, enabling fixation of the lead to the skull while the lead is maintained stereotactically rigid. The feed-through, or anchoring assembly comprises a burr hole element which is positioned within the burr hole, having a radial slit which extends axially through the piece and has a groove for receiving and containing an O-ring, which O-ring is adjustably positioned radially along the slit in accordance with the target position. The O-ring is made of a compressive material, and has a center orifice which closely receives the lead. When the lead is inserted through the O-ring and stereotactically positioned, a clamping element is secured in place above the O-ring, compressing it so as to squeeze it inward, thereby securing the lead while it is still stereotactically fixed.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a patient'"'"'s brain comprising an implantable device, a lead for interconnecting said device and the patient'"'"'s brain, said lead being tubular with an outer diameter, and a subsystem for holding said lead in position relative to the patient'"'"'s skull, the subsystem being positioned in a substantially cylindrical burr hole drilled in the patient'"'"'s skull, said burr hole having a center axis, the subsystem further comprising:

eccentric means for enabling passage of said lead through said burr hole at an off-center location; and

clamping means for clamping said lead in a said off-center position with respect to said burr hole without significant movement of said lead, wherein said eccentric means comprises a feedthrough piece secured within said burr hole, said piece having a receiving groove extending radially and transversely to the center axis of said burr hole, and a ring-shaped element slidably positioned in said receiving groove, said feedthrough piece having a first radial slit that extends axially through said piece, said groove being positioned at the top of said slit, said clamping means comprising a compression disc having a radial slit in alignment with said first radial slit, said feedthrough piece further having a slit which tapers radially outward from top to bottom, thereby permitting positioning of the lead at an angle with respect to the axis of said piece.

2. A sub-system for affixing a brain lead to a patient'"'"'s skull, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical burr hole piece which fits within a burr hole in said patient'"'"'s skull;

lateral means positioned within said burr hole piece for receiving said lead at an adjustable radial location relative to the center axis of said burr hole piece; and

clamping means for clamping said lead at said adjustable location, thereby fixing said lead relative to said burr hole, and

tapering means for permitting said lead to be positioned and fixed at an angle relative to the axis of said burr hole.