Stimulation/sensing lead adapted for percutaneous insertion

• US 8,340,784 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erickson, John H., Drees, Scott F., Daglow, Terry, Munson, John Connell Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): OROPEZA, FRANCES P
• Application Number:
  US12/354,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 600/373, 600/393, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a percutaneous insertion-capable lead, wherein insertion made through a percutaneous insertion structure. For one embodiment of such lead, the electrode-supporting stimulation portion of the lead includes at least one waisted region, relative to a transverse dimension of the lead, to facilitate lead steerability.

Claims

1. A method for implanting a stimulation lead into the epidural space of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a needle through tissue of the patient until a tip of the needle is disposed within the epidural space of the patient;

inserting a stiffening stylet into a stimulation lead through an internal stylet guide of the stimulation lead, wherein the stimulation lead further comprises a plurality of a terminals at a proximal end of the stimulation lead, the stimulation lead comprises a body at a distal end of the stimulation lead, the body including two principal opposing planar surfaces with electrodes arranged on one of the planar surfaces, and the body having a first portion at a distal end of the body, the first portion of the body being flexible in a plane substantially parallel to the planar surfaces, and the stylet guide extends the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein after the inserting is performed, an end of the stylet is disposed at a distal end of the body of the stimulation lead;

advancing the stimulation lead with the stiffening stylet through the needle and into the epidural space of the patient; and

removing the needle from the epidural space of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are arrange in a linear column along the body of the stimulation lead.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

steering the body of the stimulation lead within the epidural space in a direction transverse to the spinal cord of the patient by manipulating an orientation of a bent distal end of the stylet causing the first portion of the body to flex in a plane substantially parallel to the planar surfaces.