Electrode head fixation arrangement

• US 7,187,983 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hill, Rolf, Dahlberg, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko; George R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/432,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 607/126, 607/128
• US Class Current: 607/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

A fixation arrangement on the outer surface of an electrode head at distal end of a pacing lead includes an attachment mechanism having at least one tine, the tine being connected to the electrode head by a tine base portion that includes an electrically controlled heat-responsive positioner. The electrically controlled heat responsive positioner allows the angular position of the tine relative to the electrode head to be selective adjusted by a temperature change in the positioner.

Claims

1. A fixation arrangement comprising:

a pacing lead electrode head having an outer surface;

at least one line having a tine base portion connecting said tine to said electrode head;

said tine base portion including an electrically controlled heat-responsive positioner allowing selective angular positioning of said tine relative to said electrode head dependent on a temperature change in said heat-responsive positioner, and

said positioner in said tine base portion comprising a first rigid hinge element connected to said pacing lead electrode head and a second rigid hinge element anchored to said tine at said tine base portion, and an adjustable hinge element including a sequence of cooperating bending actuators connected in series, each of said bending actuators being a polyimide micro-joint, said sequence producing an adjustable relative angular movement between said first said hinge element and said second rigid hinge element.

2. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two tines spaced apart around a circumference of said electrode head and each having a tine base portion integrated into said outer surface of said electrode head.

3. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein each tine base portion is disposed within a same angular region around said outer surface of said electrode head.

4. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tines include a first group of tines and a second group of tines, the respective base portions of said tines in said first group being disposed in a first annular region around said outer surface of said electrode head, and the respective base portions of said tines in said second group being disposed in a second annular region around said outer surface of said electrode head, said first and second annular regions being axially spaced from each other.

5. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two tines and further comprising a carrier disposed around said outer surface of said electrode head, a respective tine based portions of said tines being integrated in said carrier.

6. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein each tine base portion is disposed within a same angular region around said outer surface of said carrier.

7. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tines include a first group of tines and a second group of tines, the respective base portions of said tines in said first group being disposed in a first annular region around said outer surface of said carrier, and the respective base portions of said tines in said second group being disposed in a second annular region around said outer surface of said carrier, said first and second annular regions being axially spaced from each other.

8. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising a heater disposed in at least one of said first rigid hinge element and said second rigid hinge element for controllably heating said polyimide micro-joint.

9. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said electrode head has, for each of said tines, a recess disposed axially along said electrode head adjacent said tine base portion to receive said tine when said tine has an angular position of 0°

relative to said electrode head.

10. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tine is disposed at a non-adjusted initial position relative to said electrode head wherein said tine forms an acute angle in a range between 30°

and 60°

relative to a longitudinal axis of said electrode head.

11. A fixation arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat-responsive positioner consists of heat-responsive material, and wherein a remainder of said at least one tine consists of material different from said heat-responsive material.