Torque mechanism and method for endocardial leads

• US 6,606,522 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Schell, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/870,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116-138, 600/373-381, 604/527
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A lead assembly includes a flexible lead body which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body includes one or more conductors therein. The lead assembly further includes a braided torque transmission member, and optionally at least one coating of insulative material coated directly on the torque transmission member.

Claims

1. A lead assembly comprising:

an insulative lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including one or more conductors disposed therein, the conductors configured to transmit electric signals through the lead body;

an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with the one or more conductors; and

at least one conductor including at least one braided conductor, the braided conductor being coupled to the insulative lead body such that rotating the braided conductor causes the electrode assembly to extend relative to the insulative lead body.

2. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one coating of insulation coated directly on the braided conductor.

3. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second coating of insulation coated between the braided conductor and a second conductor, and the second coating is coated directly on the second conductor.

4. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the braided conductor comprises a torque transfer member.

5. A lead assembly comprising:

a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including one or more conductors disposed therein;

an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with at least one of the conductors; and

a flexible torque transmission member extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the flexible torque transmission member comprising a braided member that is coupled to the flexible lead body such that rotating the braided member causes the at least one electrode to extend relative to the flexible lead body.

6. The lead assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the torque transmission member is non-removably disposed within the lead body.

7. The lead assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising a coating of insulation coated between a first conductor and a second conductor.

8. The lead assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the coating of insulation is coated directly on the first conductor.

9. The lead assembly as recited in claim 5, further comprising an outer layer of insulative coating, and an inner layer of insulative coating, wherein each insulative coating is coated directly on one of the at least one conductors.

10. The lead assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a stripped portion where a portion of the outer layer is stripped from the conductor.

11. A lead assembly comprising:

a flexible, insulative lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body including one or more conductors disposed therein;

an electrode assembly including a first electrode electrically coupled with at least one of the conductors; and

a braided means for transferring torque from the proximal end to a first electrode, the braided means being coupled to the flexible, insulative lead body such that rotating the braided means causes the first electrode to extend relative to the flexible, insulative lead body.

12. The lead assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the torque transmission member is non-removably disposed within the lead body.

13. The lead assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the means for transferring torque is operably coupled at the proximal end of the lead body.

14. The lead assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, and a coating of insulation coated between the first conductor and the second conductor.

15. The lead assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the braided means for transferring torque comprises an electrical conductor configured to conduct signals from the proximal end to the first electrode.

16. A method comprising:

braiding material to form a torque transmission member;

mechanically coupling the torque transmission member with a rotatable electrode;

disposing the torque transmission member within a flexible lead body;

coupling the torque transmission member to the flexible lead body; and

rotating the torque transmission member cause the rotatable electrode to extend relative to the flexible lead body.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising coating insulative material directly on the torque transmission member.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein braiding material includes braiding conductive material to form an electrically conductive torque transmission member.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein braiding material includes braiding flexible material to form a flexible torque transmission member.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising providing a conductor over and around the torque transmission member, and coating insulative material directly on the conductor.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising coating a first coating of insulative material directly on the torque transmission member, providing a conductor over and around the torque transmission member, and coating a second coating of insulative material directly on the second conductor.

22. A method comprising:

braiding two or more flexible conductors to form a first flexible, braided conductor, the first braided conductor extending from a first end to a second end;

coating insulative material directly on the first braided conductor;

mechanically and electrically coupling at least one rotatable electrode with the first braided conductor;

disposing the first braided conductor within an outer insulative lead body;

coupling the first braided conductor to the outer insulative lead body;

rotating the first braided conductor to rotate extend the rotatable electrode relative to the outer insulative lead body; and

coupling the first end of the first conductor with an energy source.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising braiding multiple conductors to form a second conductor around the first flexible, braided conductor.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising coating a second coating of insulative material directly on the second braided conductor.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising stripping insulative material from a portion of the first braided conductor, and exposing a portion of the first braided conductor.