Fiber optic assisted medical lead
First Claim
1. An implantable medical lead assembly for fixing an electrode connected to the lead to tissue in a human body, the lead assembly comprising:
- a) an elongated lead body having a first length extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion with at least the distal lead portion having a first longitudinal axis;
b) an electrical conductor disposed along at least part of the first length of the lead body;
c) a lead head comprising an annular sidewall surrounding an aperture in the lead head, the lead head aperture extending along a second longitudinal axis from a proximal lead head end to a distal lead head end, wherein the distal lead portion is connected to the lead head sidewall with the first longitudinal axis of the distal lead portion being radially offset from the second longitudinal axis of the lead head aperture;
d) an electrode coupled to the lead head to conduct electricity between the electrical conductor and the body tissue; and
e) a drive shaft having a second length extending from a proximal drive shaft portion to a distal drive shaft portion, wherein the distal drive shaft portion is releasably attachable to the proximal end of the lead head to thereby provide the lead body and the drive shaft in a side-by-side relationship and wherein the proximal drive shaft portion is manipulatable to impart rotational movement to the lead head to thereby secure the electrode into the body tissue and wherein the drive shaft is further detachable from the lead head connected to the lead with the electrode remaining secured to the body tissue.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for placing medical leads using minimally invasive techniques. One lead includes a lead body connected to a lead head having an aperture for providing fiber optic access to the interior of a helical electrode. The fiber optic shaft may be disposed within or along-side a drive shaft releasably coupled to the head to rotate the head. The drive shaft and lead body may be delivered using a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter can be advanced though a small incision to the target tissue site, and the site remotely visualized through the fiber optic scope extending through the lead head aperture. Some catheters include a distal mapping electrode readable from the catheter proximal portion or handle. The lead head can be rotated, rotating the helical electrode into the tissue, and the catheter, drive shaft, and fiber optic probe removed. In one use, epicardial pacing leads are placed on the posterior surface of the heart, aided by visualization and mapping to obtain optimal electrode placement and patient outcome.
-
Citations
67 Claims
-
1. An implantable medical lead assembly for fixing an electrode connected to the lead to tissue in a human body, the lead assembly comprising:
-
a) an elongated lead body having a first length extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion with at least the distal lead portion having a first longitudinal axis; b) an electrical conductor disposed along at least part of the first length of the lead body; c) a lead head comprising an annular sidewall surrounding an aperture in the lead head, the lead head aperture extending along a second longitudinal axis from a proximal lead head end to a distal lead head end, wherein the distal lead portion is connected to the lead head sidewall with the first longitudinal axis of the distal lead portion being radially offset from the second longitudinal axis of the lead head aperture; d) an electrode coupled to the lead head to conduct electricity between the electrical conductor and the body tissue; and e) a drive shaft having a second length extending from a proximal drive shaft portion to a distal drive shaft portion, wherein the distal drive shaft portion is releasably attachable to the proximal end of the lead head to thereby provide the lead body and the drive shaft in a side-by-side relationship and wherein the proximal drive shaft portion is manipulatable to impart rotational movement to the lead head to thereby secure the electrode into the body tissue and wherein the drive shaft is further detachable from the lead head connected to the lead with the electrode remaining secured to the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. An implantable medical lead assembly for fixing an electrode connected to the lead to tissue in a human body, the lead assembly comprising:
-
a) an elongated lead body having a first length extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion with at least the distal lead portion having a first longitudinal axis; b) an electrical conductor disposed along at least part of the first length of the lead body; c) a lead head comprising an annular sidewall surrounding an aperture in the lead head, the lead head aperture extending along a second longitudinal axis from a proximal lead head end to a distal lead head end, wherein the distal lead portion is hingedly connected to the lead head sidewall with the first longitudinal axis of the distal lead portion being radially offset from the second longitudinal axis of the lead head aperture; d) an electrode coupled to the lead head to conduct electricity between the electrical conductor and the body tissue; and e) a drive shaft having a second length extending from a proximal drive shaft portion to a distal drive shaft portion, wherein the distal drive shaft portion is releasably attachable to the proximal end of the lead head and wherein the proximal drive shaft portion is manipulatable to impart rotational movement to the lead head to thereby secure the electrode into the body tissue and wherein the drive shaft is further detachable from the lead head connected to the lead with the electrode remaining secured to the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
-
-
65. An implantable medical lead assembly for fixing an electrode connected to the lead to tissue in a human body, the lead assembly comprising:
-
a) an elongated lead body having a first length extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion with at least the distal lead portion having a first longitudinal axis; b) an electrical conductor disposed along at least part of the first length of the lead body; c) a lead head comprising an annular sidewall surrounding an aperture in the lead head, the lead head aperture extending along a second longitudinal axis from a proximal lead head end to a distal lead head end, wherein the distal lead portion is connected to the lead head sidewall with the first longitudinal axis of the distal lead portion being radially offset from the second longitudinal axis of the lead head aperture; d) an electrode coupled to the lead head to conduct electricity between the electrical conductor and the body tissue; and e) a drive shaft having a second length extending from a proximal drive shaft portion to a distal drive shaft portion, wherein one of the drive shaft distal portion and the lead head proximal portion comprises a slot that releasably engages a protrusion comprising the other of them such that with the drive shaft distal portion mated to the lead head proximal portion, the proximal drive shaft portion is manipulatable to impart rotational movement to the lead head to thereby secure the electrode into the body tissue and wherein the drive shaft is further detachable from the lead head connected to the lead with the electrode remaining secured to the body tissue. - View Dependent Claims (66)
-
-
67. An implantable medical lead, which comprises:
-
a) an elongated lead body having a first length extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion with at least the distal lead portion having a first longitudinal axis; b) an electrical conductor disposed along at least part of the first length of the lead body; c) a lead head comprising an annular sidewall surrounding an aperture in the lead head, the lead head aperture extending along a second longitudinal axis from a proximal lead head end to a distal lead head end, wherein the distal lead portion is connected to the lead head sidewall with the first longitudinal axis of the distal lead portion being radially offset from the second longitudinal axis of the lead head aperture; d) a helical electrode coupled to the lead head to conduct electricity between the electrical conductor and the body tissue; and e) a drive shaft having a second length extending from a proximal drive shaft portion to a distal drive shaft portion, wherein the distal drive shaft portion is releasably attachable to the proximal end of the lead head to thereby provide the lead body and the drive shaft in a side-by-side relationship and wherein the proximal drive shaft portion is manipulatable to impart rotational movement to the drive head to thereby secure the electrode into the body tissue and wherein the lead shaft is further detachable from the lead head connected to the lead with the electrode remaining secured to the body tissue.
-
Specification