Insertion needle for use with implantable, expandable, multicontact electrodes

• US 6,658,302 B1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Kuzma, Janusz A., Mann, Carla M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US10/188,168
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119, 607/129, 607/115-117, 607/122, 600/372-374, 600/377, 600/381
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

An insertion needle facilitates the implantation of an electrode array carried on a flexible, foldable or compressible, subcarrier or substrate. Such subcarrier or substrate folds or compresses during implantation, thereby facilitating its insertion using the insertion needle. Once implanted, such subcarrier or substrate expands, thereby placing the electrodes in a desired spaced-apart positional relationship, and thus achieving a desired electrode array configuration. The insertion needle has a lumen with a non-circular cross-sectional shape, e.g., having a width greater than its height, to facilitate sliding the folded or compressed paddle-type electrode array therein, and further includes a longitudinal slit.

Claims

1. An insertion needle for percutaneously implanting a foldable or compressible paddle electrode array, the insertion needle having a lumen that passes longitudinally therethrough, the lumen having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, the non-circular cross-sectional shape being adapted to receive the foldable or compressible paddle electrode array while in a folded or compressed state.

2. The insertion needle of claim 1 wherein the lumen has a width L1 and a height L2, and wherein L2 is greater than L1.

3. The insertion needle of claim 2 wherein L2 is about 4 mm and L1 is about 3 mm.

4. The insertion needle of claim 2 wherein the insertion needle further includes a sharp distal tip to facilitate its insertion into living tissue.

5. An insertion needle for use with an implantable, expandable, multicontact electrode, the insertion needle comprising

a hollow needle having a channel passing through the center thereof;

wherein the hollow needle has a sharp distal tip, and

wherein the hollow needle further has a longitudinal slit that opens up one side of the channel, and

wherein the channel has a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to receive the implantable, expandable, multicontact electrode while in a folded or compressed state.

6. The insertion needle of claim 5 wherein the non-circular cross-sectional shape is further adapted to receive an insertion stylet along with the folded or compressed implantable, expandable, multicontact electrode.

7. The insertion needle of claim 5 wherein the channel has approximate dimensions of L1 by L2, where L1 is greater than L2.

8. The insertion needle of claim 7 wherein L1 is approximately 4 mm and L2 is approximately 3 mm.

9. The insertion needle of claim 8 wherein the slit has a width of about 1.2 mm.

10. An insertion needle through which a paddle electrode array may be percutaneously implanted into living tissue, the insertion needle having a lumen that passes therethrough, the lumen having a non-circular cross-sectional shape, wherein the lumen has a width L1 and a height L2, and wherein L1 is greater than L2.

11. The insertion needle of claim 10 wherein L1 is about 4 mm and L2 is about 3 mm.

12. The insertion needle of claim 10 wherein the insertion needle further includes a sharp distal tip to facilitate its insertion into living tissue.

13. The insertion needle of claim 10 further including a longitudinal slit that opens up one side of the lumen.

14. The insertion needle of claim 13 wherein the longitudinal slit has a width of about 1.2 mm.