Medical device anchor and method of manufacture thereof

• US 7,591,970 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Olson, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Edmund H.
• Application Number:
  US11/370,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 264/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A medical device anchor for use with electrical stimulation leads or catheters, and method of manufacture thereof. The anchor may include a gripping structure and a body portion molded on the gripping structure. The gripping structure forms a serpentine arrangement of a continuous nature with axial segments alternately interconnected between shoulder segments and bridging segments. The shoulder segments extend radially outward relative to the through hole further than the axial segments. The body portion may be formed by molding to securely capture the shoulder in the body portion, with the body portion being molded of material that is softer and more compliant than the gripping structure.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing the medical device anchor, the method comprising:

forming a gripping structure defining a through hole having a circumference, wherein axial, circumferential and radial directions are defined relative to the through hole, the gripping structure forming a continuous, serpentine arrangement having a plurality of compressible axial segments arranged in a generally parallel, spaced apart array along the circumference of the through hole, each axial segment having first and second ends; and

a plurality of shoulder segments separated from one another in alternating fashion by a plurality of shoulder gaps forming a generally annular array of shoulder segments and shoulder gaps, the first ends of the axial segments being alternately bridged or unbridged by the shoulder segments and shoulder gaps, the shoulder segments extending radially outward relative to the through hole further than the axial segments;

a plurality of bridging segments separated from one another in alternating fashion by a plurality of unbridged gaps forming a generally annular array of bridging portions and unbridged gaps, the second ends of the axial segments being alternately bridged or unbridged by the bridging segments and unbridged gaps such that the gripping structure forms a serpentine arrangement of a continuous nature with the compressible beams alternately interconnected between shoulder segments and bridging segments; and

molding a body portion on the gripping structure to securely capture the shoulder segments in the body portion, the body portion being molded of material that is softer and more compliant than the gripping structure.

2. The medical device anchor of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a gripping structure further includes:

forming a grip-enhancing texture along a radially-inwardly facing surface of each axial segment, the grip-enhancing texture being formed for frictional engagement with a lead or catheter in use of the medical device anchor.

3. The medical device anchor of claim 2 wherein the step of forming a grip-enhancing texture along a radially-inwardly facing surface of each axial segment further includes:

forming threads or grooves along the radially-inwardly facing surfaces of the axial segments.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

covering the gripping structure with a sleeve prior to molding the body portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shoulder segments form a shoulder when compressed.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the body portion includes a midportion having a plurality of bumps on an outer surface.