Anchoring units for leads of implantable electric stimulation systems and methods of making and using
First Claim
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1. A nerve stimulation lead comprising:
- a lead body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length;
a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end;
a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end;
a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals; and
a plurality of anchoring units configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure, each of the plurality of anchoring units is configured and arranged to transition between an undeployed position and a deployed position, the undeployed position facilitating positioning of the nerve stimulation lead and the deployed position facilitating anchoring of the nerve stimulation lead, wherein, in the undeployed position, each anchoring unit is disposed within the lead body and, in the deployed position, each anchoring units extends from the lead body.
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Abstract
A nerve stimulation lead has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length. The nerve stimulation lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end, and a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals. The nerve stimulation lead also includes at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead. The at least one anchoring unit is configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure.
80 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A nerve stimulation lead comprising:
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a lead body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length; a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end; a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end; a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals; and a plurality of anchoring units configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure, each of the plurality of anchoring units is configured and arranged to transition between an undeployed position and a deployed position, the undeployed position facilitating positioning of the nerve stimulation lead and the deployed position facilitating anchoring of the nerve stimulation lead, wherein, in the undeployed position, each anchoring unit is disposed within the lead body and, in the deployed position, each anchoring units extends from the lead body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of stimulating tissue, the method comprising:
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implanting a nerve stimulation lead near tissue to be stimulated, the nerve stimulation lead comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed at a distal end of the nerve stimulation lead;
a plurality of terminals disposed at a proximal end of the nerve stimulation lead;
a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals; and
at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead, wherein during implantation the at least one anchoring unit is in an undeployed position;deploying the at least one anchoring unit by twisting at least a portion of the nerve stimulation lead; anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure using the at least one anchoring unit that has been deployed; and stimulating the tissue using a current provided through at least one of the plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of stimulating tissue, the method comprising:
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implanting a nerve stimulation lead near tissue to be stimulated, the nerve stimulation lead comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed at a distal end of the nerve stimulation lead;
a plurality of terminals disposed at a proximal end of the nerve stimulation lead;
a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals; and
at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead, wherein at least one of the anchoring units comprises an expandable tip disposed on the nerve stimulation lead distal to the plurality of electrodes, wherein during implantation the expandable tip is in an undeployed position;deploying the expandable tip by pushing against the undeployed expandable tip using a stylet disposed within the nerve stimulation lead; anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure using the deployed expandable tip; and stimulating the tissue using a current provided through at least one of the plurality of electrodes.
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Specification