Technique for fixating a lead

• US 6,792,318 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Chitre, Yougandh, Schimke, Kerwyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/172,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 604/175, 607/116-138, 623/23.74
• US Class Current: 607/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device includes an elongated lead with a conductor extending between distal and proximal ends. A tubular insulating sheath overlies the conductor and has an outer peripheral surface of revolution defined by a radius originating at the longitudinal axis. A tip electrode at the distal end of the lead is attached to the conductor. A proximal connector is in electrical continuity with the stimulation device and coupled to the tip electrode. The insulating sheath is formed with a passive fixation feature formed into the outer peripheral surface for encouraging tissue ingrowth to facilitate stability of the tip electrode when the lead system is implanted. No portion of the passive fixation feature extends radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than the radius of the tubular insulating sheath.

Claims

1. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device, the lead system comprising:

an elongated lead having a longitudinal axis and including a conductor extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the lead;

a tubular insulating sheath overlying the conductor and having an outer peripheral surface of revolution defined by a radius originating at the longitudinal axis;

a tip electrode at the distal end of the lead attached to the conductor;

a proximal connector in electrical continuity with the stimulation device and coupled to the conductor;

the tubular insulating sheath formed with a passive fixation feature formed into the outer peripheral surface for encouraging tissue ingrowth, wherein no portion of the passive fixation feature extends radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than the radius of the tubular insulating sheath and wherein the passive fixation feature is defined by a distally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface, a proximally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface spaced from and opposed to the distally facing annular lip, and an intermediate continuous concavely curved annular surface extending between the distally facing annular lip and the proximally facing annular lip, a maximum radial dimension between a plane of the outer peripheral surface and the concavely curved annular surface being less than the longitudinal dimension of the concavely curved annular surface.

2. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device, the lead system comprising:

an elongated lead having a longitudinal axis and including a conductor extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the lead;

a tubular insulating sheath overlying the conductor and having an outer peripheral surface of revolution defined by a radius originating at the longitudinal axis;

a tip electrode at the distal end of the lead attached to the conductor;

a proximal connector in electrical continuity with the stimulation device and coupled to the conductor;

the tubular insulating sheath formed with a passive fixation feature formed into the outer peripheral surface for encouraging tissue ingrowth, wherein no portion of the passive fixation feature extends radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than the radius of the tubular insulating sheath and wherein the passive fixation feature is defined by a proximally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface and a continuous concavely curved annular surface extending proximally from the proximally facing annular lip and intersecting with the outer peripheral surface at an annular edge, the proximally facing annular lip being spaced from and opposed to the annular edge.

3. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device, the lead system comprising:

an elongated lead having a longitudinal axis and including first and second mutually insulated conductors extending between a distal end and a proximal end;

a tubular insulating sheath having an outer peripheral surface of revolution defined by a radius originating at the longitudinal axis;

a tip electrode at the distal end of the lead attached to the first conductor;

a ring electrode proximally spaced from the tip electrode attached to the second conductor;

a proximal connector in electrical continuity with the stimulation device and coupled, respectively, to the tip electrode and to the ring electrode;

wherein the tubular insulating sheath is formed with a passive fixation feature formed into the outer peripheral surface for encouraging tissue ingrowth to facilitate stability of the tip electrode when the lead system is implanted, no portion of which extends radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than the radius of the tubular insulating sheath and wherein the passive fixation feature is defined by a distally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface, a proximally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface spaced from and opposed to the distally facing annular lip, and an intermediate continuous concavely curved annular surface extending between the distally facing annular lip and the proximally facing annular lip, a maximum radial dimension between a plane of the outer peripheral surface and the concavely curved annular surface being less than the longitudinal dimension of the concavely curved annular surface.

4. An implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device, the lead system comprising:

an elongated lead having a longitudinal axis and including first and second mutually insulated conductors extending between a distal end and a proximal end;

a tubular insulating sheath having an outer peripheral surface of revolution defined by a radius originating at the longitudinal axis;

a tip electrode at the distal end of the lead attached to the first conductor;

a ring electrode proximally spaced from the tip electrode attached to the second conductor;

a proximal connector in electrical continuity with the stimulation device and coupled, respectively, to the tip electrode and to the ring electrode;

wherein the tubular insulating sheath is formed with a passive fixation feature formed into the outer peripheral surface for encouraging tissue ingrowth to facilitate stability of the tip electrode when the lead system is implanted, no portion of which extends radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than the radius of the tubular insulating sheath and wherein the passive fixation feature is defined by a proximally facing annular lip adjacent the outer peripheral surface and a continuous concavely curved annular surface extending proximally from the proximally facing annular lip and intersecting with the outer peripheral surface at an annular edge, the proximally facing annular lip being spaced from and opposed to the annular edge.