Suture sleeve and a method for implanting one or two leads into a vein

• US 8,280,527 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckerdal, Johan, Hill, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): OROPEZA, FRANCES P
• Application Number:
  US12/528,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/149
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0582 Suture sleeves

Abstract

For a suture sleeve and implantation method for one or two implantable leads, the suture sleeve is adapted to be inserted into a vein to secure and protect the lead from damage when a suture thread is positioned and tied around the vein in the region over the suture sleeve to prevent bleeding from the vein. The suture sleeve has two lead receiving through holes, into each of which a medical implantable lead is insertable. The suture sleeve also has two elongated sleeve portions, each including a lead receiving through hole, which are positioned in parallel and displaced in relation to each other such that they are connected in a connecting portion. At least one sleeve portion projects further in one direction.

Claims

1. A suture sleeve for selectively introducing one or two implantable leads in vivo into a vein, said suture sleeve comprising:

a suture sleeve body comprising two elongated sleeve portions each having a through-hole therein configured to receive a medical lead therethrough inserted therein in a longitudinal direction, said elongated sleeve portions being disposed side-by-side and said sleeve body comprising a connecting portion that connects said sleeve portions with each other;

one of said sleeve portions projecting further in said longitudinal direction than the other of said sleeve portions;

said sleeve portions and said sleeve body being configured to allow, when only one lead is inserted into one through hole of one of said sleeve portions, only said one of said sleeve portions to be inserted into the vein and tied around by a suture thread, with said other sleeve portion being positioned outside of said vein and, when medical leads are inserted respectively into each of the through-holes of said two sleeve portions, said sleeve body being configured to be inserted, with both of said sleeve portions and said connecting portion, into said vein and tied around by a suture thread; and

said sleeve body being configured, when either one or both of said sleeve portions has a medical lead inserted in the through-hole thereof, to prevent bleeding from the vein when tied around with a suture thread.

2. A suture sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve portions are of equal length.

3. A suture sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sleeve body is formed of an elastic material and comprises a slot in said insertion direction allowing material around at least one of said through holes to be deflected, to widen said slot and allow introduction of a medical lead sideways into said through hole, perpendicular to said insertion direction.

4. A suture sleeve as claimed in claim 3 wherein only one of said sleeve portions comprises said slot.

5. A method for selectively introducing one or two implantable leads in vivo into a vein using a suture sleeve, comprising the steps of:

providing a suture sleeve body comprising two elongated sleeve portions each having a through-hole therein configured to receive a medical lead therethrough inserted therein in a longitudinal direction, said elongated sleeve portions being disposed side-by-side and said sleeve body comprising a connecting portion that connects said sleeve portions with each other, one of said sleeve portions projecting further in said insertion direction than the other of said sleeve portions;

when only one lead is inserted into one through hole of one of said sleeve portions, inserting only said one of said sleeve portions into the vein and tying the sleeve body around with a suture thread, with said other sleeve portion being positioned outside of said vein and, when medical leads are inserted respectively into each of the through-holes of said two sleeve portions, inserting both of said sleeve portions and said connecting portion, into said vein and tying said sleeve body around with a suture thread.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising:

forming said suture sleeve body of elastic material with a slot in one of said through holes; and

inserting a medical lead in said one of said through holes by deflecting said material around said slot to widen said slot and inserting the medical lead into the through hole through the widened slot.