Double threaded stylet for extraction of leads with a threaded electrode

• US 6,512,959 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Safarevich, Sergey, Gomperz, Benedict L., Klehn, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US09/723,961
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 607/122, 607/126, 607/129, 607/125, 607/127, 607/119, 607/116, 604/158, 604/159, 604/105-110
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

A technique for removing an implanted lead from a body includes the steps of releasably attaching a stylet to both the distal end of the implanted lead and to the proximal end of the implanted lead. This results in a substantially unified stylet and implanted lead structure whereby withdrawal of the stylet and of the implanted lead as a unit facilitates the complete removal of the implanted lead from the body. A threaded tip end may be used for threaded engagement with a tapped bore at the distal end of the implanted lead and at the proximal end, attachment being provided by a threaded region on the stylet distant from the threaded tip end for threaded engagement with a tapped bore of a connector pin integral with the implanted lead. In this instance, the diameter of the proximal threaded region on the stylet is greater than that of the threaded tip end. In one embodiment, the implanted lead is resiliently extensible and the stylet is greater in length than the implanted lead in its relaxed condition and tension is applied to the proximal end of the implanted lead to thereby stretch it so that the proximal end of the implanted lead is generally coextensive with the proximal end of the stylet.

Claims

1. An implantable lead system having means for removing an implantable lead from a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

an implanted lead extending between a distal end implanted in the body and a proximal end;

distal attachment means at the distal end of the implanted lead;

proximal attachment means at the proximal end of the implanted lead;

a stylet extending between distal attachment means releasably attachable to the distal end of the implanted lead and proximal attachment means releasably attachable to the proximal end of the implanted lead and resulting in a substantially unified stylet and implanted lead structure whereby withdrawal of the stylet and of the implanted lead as a unit facilitates the complete removal of the implanted lead from the body.

2. The lead system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the implanted lead includes a resiliently extensible tubular member; and

the stylet is greater in length than the implanted lead in its relaxed condition and substantially nonextensible such that when the distal attachment means is releasably attached to the distal attachment means of the implanted lead and when the proximal attachment means is releasably attached to the proximal attachment means of the implanted lead, the implanted lead is stretched taut resulting in a substantially unified stylet and implanted lead structure.

3. The lead system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the distal attachment means includes a threaded tip end for threaded engagement with a tapped bore at the distal end of the implanted lead; and

the implanted lead includes an integral connector pin having a tapped bore at the proximal end thereof; and

the proximal attachment means includes a threaded region on the stylet distant from the threaded tip end for threaded engagement with the tapped bore of the connector pin.

4. The lead system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the diameter of the threaded region on the stylet is greater than that of the threaded tip end.

5. The lead system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the implanted lead includes an integral connector pin at the proximal end thereof with a longitudinally extending proximally facing tapped bore therein; and

the proximal attachment means includes a nut member having an integral distally extending threaded stud, the nut member being journaled for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stylet while prevented from longitudinal movement along the stylet, the threaded stud being threadedly engageable with the tapped bore of the connector pin.

6. The lead system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the proximal attachment means comprises:

a distally extending flange member with a radially directed tapped bore therein; and

a setscrew threadedly received in the tapped bore of the flange member for engagement with the proximal end of the implanted lead.

7. The lead system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the implanted lead is a resiliently extensible implanted lead whose distal end is implanted in the body;

the stylet is greater in length than the implanted lead in its relaxed condition; and

a substantially unified stylet and implanted lead structure results when tension is applied to the proximal end of the implanted lead to thereby stretch it to substantially the length of the stylet, whereby withdrawal of the stylet and of the implanted lead as a unit facilitates the complete removal of the implanted lead from the body.