Electrode leads for use in laparoscopic surgery

• US 6,510,332 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transneuronix Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Transneuronix Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Greenstein, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/640,201
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 600/374, 600/375, 600/377, 600/373, 607/116, 607/129, 607/130, 607/132, 607/133
• US Class Current: 600/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to an implant device which is designed and adapted use in laparoscopic surgery. This implant device is especially adapted for electrostimulation and/or electrical monitoring of endo-abdominal tissue or viscera. The implant device has an elongated body having on, or near, its distal end a flexible attachment member which can be folded back on to the elongated body and attached to the elongated body thereby forming a closed loop around the tissue of interest. By “looping” around or through the tissue of interest, the attachment member and the elongated body are securely attached to the tissue and will resisted displacement even in cases where the tissue is subject to vigorous, periodic peristaltic movement within the body (e.g., digestive organs). One preferred implant device of this invention has an elongated body equipped with two or more electric poles that are electrically connected to an electric connection terminal for connection to a power source, mechanism to penetrate the tissue or viscera to be treated, quick-release connecting devices to separate the penetration device from the elongated body, and a locking or attachment device which is capable of folding back and attaching to the elongated body whereby the locking device and the elongated body forms a secure and essentially continuous loop around the tissue or viscera to be treated.

Claims

1. An implant device for attachment to internal tissue using laparoscopic surgery, said implant device comprising:

(1) an elongated having a proximal end and a distal end and an essentially circular cross-section suitable for passage through a trocar used in laparoscopic surgey;

(2) an attachment mechanism at, or near, the distal end of the elongated body whereby the attached mechanism can be folded back and attached to the elongated body so that the implant device is held in place and forms an essentially continuous loop around or through the tissue; and

(3) two or more electric poles located along the elongated body such that the electric poles are in electrical contact with the tissue when the attachment mechanism is folded back and attached to the elongated body,

wherein the electric poles are connected to an electrical connection terminal for connection to a power source and

wherein the attachment is an elongated slot in the elongated body at or near the distal end of the elongated body, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back and the proximal end of the elongated body can extend through the slot to form the essentially continuous loop and to secure the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

2. The implant device as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

3. The implant device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

4. The implant device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.

5. The implant device as defined in claim 4, wherein the attachment mechanism is an elongated slit at or near the distal end of the elongated body such that two extending prongs can be formed, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back such that the two prongs of the attachment mechanism can be placed on opposite sides of the elongated body and secured to the elongated body.

6. The implant device as defined in claim 5, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

7. The implant device as defined in claim 5, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

8. The implant device as defined in claim 5, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.

9. An implant device for electrostimulation or electrical monitoring of tissue to be treated within the endo-abdominal cavity, said implant device comprising:

(1) an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end,

(2) a penetration mechanism at the distal end of the elongated body to penetrate the tissue to be treated,

(3) a quick release connecting mechanism adjacent to the penetration mechanism which allows the penetration mechanism to be detached from the elongated body once the implant device has been properly located within the endo-abdominal cavity,

(4) an attachment mechanism adjacent and proximal to the quick release connecting mechanism, wherein the attachment mechanism, once the penetration device has been detached, can be folded back and attached to the elongated body so that the implant device is held in place and forms an essentially continuous loop around or through the tissue to be treated,

(5) one or more electric poles located along the elongated body such that the electric poles are in electrical contact with the tissue to be treated when the attachment mechanism is folded back and attached to the elongated body, and

(6) an electrical connection terminal at the proximal end of the elongated body for connection to a power source, wherein the electrical connection terminal is electrically connected to the electric poles.

10. The implant device as defined in claim 9, wherein two or more electric poles are located along the elongated body.

11. The implant device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism is an elongated slot in the elongated body at or near the distal end of the elongated body, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back and the proximal end of the elongated body can extend through the slot to form the essentially continuous loop and to secure the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

12. The implant device as defined in claim 11, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

13. The implant device as defined in claim 11, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

14. The implant device as defined in claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.

15. The implant device as defined in claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism is an elongated slit at or near the distal end of the elongated body such that two extending prongs can be formed, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back such that the two prongs of the attachment mechanism can be placed on opposite sides of the elongated body and secured to the elongated body.

16. The implant device as defined in claim 15, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

17. The implant device as defined in claim 15, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

18. The implant device as defined in claim 15, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.

19. An implant device specifically for electrostimulation or electrical monitoring of tissue to be treated within the endo-abdominal cavity, said implant device comprising:

(1) an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end,

(2) a penetration mechanism at the distal end to penetrate the tissue to be treated,

(3) a quick release connecting mechanism adjacent to the penetration mechanism such that the penetration mechanism can be removed from the elongated body once the implant device is properly positioned relative to the tissue to be treated,

(4) an attachment mechanism adjacent to the quick release connecting mechanism, such that, when the quick release connecting mechanism is activated to remove the penetration mechanism, the attachment mechanism is at or near the distal end of the elongated body and the attachment mechanism can be folded back and attached to the elongated body to form an essentially continuous loop around or through the tissue to be treated and thereby secure the implant device to the tissue to be treated,

(5) at least two electric poles located along the elongated body or the attachment mechanism so that, when the attachment mechanism is folded back and attached to the elongated body, the two or more electric poles can provide electrostimulation or electrical monitoring to the tissue within the loop, and

(6) an electrical connection terminal at the proximal end for connection to a power source wherein the two or more electric poles are electrically connected to electrical connection terminal.

20. The implant device as defined in claim 19, wherein two electric poles are located along the elongated body or the attachment mechanism.

21. The implant device as defined in claim 19, wherein the attachment mechanism is an elongated slot in the elongated body at or near the distal end of the elongated body, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back and the proximal end of the elongated body can extend through the slot to form the essentially continuous loop and to secure the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

22. The implant device as defined in claim 21, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

23. The implant device as defined in claim 21, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

24. The implant device as defined in claim 21, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.

25. The implant device as defined in claim 19, wherein the attachment mechanism is an elongated slit at or near the distal end of the elongated body such that two extending prongs can be formed, whereby the attachment mechanism can be folded back such that the two prongs of the attachment mechanism can be placed on opposite sides of the elongated body and secured to the elongated body.

26. The implant device as defined in claim 25, wherein the elongated body includes one or more grooves adapted for accepting and positioning the attachment mechanism at one or more predetermined locations along the elongated body.

27. The implant device as defined in claim 25, further comprising a slidable member on the elongated body adapted for assisting in locking the attachment mechanism to the elongated body.

28. The implant device as defined in claim 25, wherein the attachment mechanism includes one or more thinned regions to allow the attachment mechanism to more easily be folded back over the elongated body.