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Minimally invasive methods for implanting a sacral stimulation lead

  • US 8,634,932 B1
  • Filed: 07/21/2009
  • Issued: 01/21/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A stimulation lead assembly, which comprises:

  • a) a stimulation lead, comprising;

    i) an elongated, insulated lead body having a length extending from a proximal lead portion having a proximal lead end to a distal lead portion having a distal lead end;

    ii) at least one stimulation electrode at the distal lead portion, at least one electrical connector at the proximal lead portion, and at least one conductor providing electrical continuity from the connector to the electrode;

    iii) a hollow lumen extending along the entire length of the lead body from the proximal lead end to the distal lead end; and

    iv) at least two fixation fingers, each having an attachment end secured to the outer surface of the lead body and a free end that is movable from a first position closely spaced to the outer surface thereof to a second, deployed position spaced from the lead body a greater radial distance than that of the first position, andv) wherein a first axial distance from a distal end of the lead to where the attached end of a first one of the fingers is secured to the lead body is substantially different than a second axial distance measured from the distal end of the lead to where the attached end of the second one of the fingers is secured to the lead body; and

    b) a tube that is sized to slide over the outer surface of the lead body to contact the at least two fixation fingers and more them from the first position into the second, deployed position, wherein the tube includes at least two longitudinal slots of different depths that correspond to the different axial distances that the at least two fixation fingers attached to the lead body are spaced from the distal end of the lead to thereby simultaneously deploy the fixation fingers at different axial distances from the distal lead end when the tube is slid over the outer surface of the lead body and out of contact with the fixation fingers.

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