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 with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the nerve stimulation lead comprising:
- 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 to the plurality of terminals;
a deployment element selected from a pullable string, wire, or stylet, wherein the deployment element disposed within, or is insertable into, the lead; and
at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead and coupled to, or coupleable to, the deployment element, the at least one anchoring unit configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure, wherein each of the at least one 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 the nerve stimulation lead, wherein the lead is configured and arranged for operating the deployment element, when coupled to the at least one anchoring unit, to directly produce a transition of the at least one anchoring unit from an undeployed position to a deployed position.
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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.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A nerve stimulation lead with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the nerve stimulation lead comprising:
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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 to the plurality of terminals; a deployment element selected from a pullable string, wire, or stylet, wherein the deployment element disposed within, or is insertable into, the lead; and at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead and coupled to, or coupleable to, the deployment element, the at least one anchoring unit configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure, wherein each of the at least one 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 the nerve stimulation lead, wherein the lead is configured and arranged for operating the deployment element, when coupled to the at least one anchoring unit, to directly produce a transition of the at least one anchoring unit from an undeployed position to a deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A nerve stimulation lead with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the nerve stimulation lead comprising:
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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 to the plurality of terminals; and a plurality of anchoring tines disposed on the nerve stimulation lead, the anchoring tines configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure or against soft tissue abutting a bony structure, wherein each of the anchoring tines is angled towards a proximal end of the lead and is sufficiently flexible to bend towards the proximal end of the lead when pushed forward through a foramen of a bony structure to facilitate passage forward through the foramen, but to anchor against the bony structure or the soft tissue abutting the bony structure around the foramen when pulled backward toward the bony structure or the soft tissue abutting the bony structure, wherein each of the anchoring tines has a contact edge for making contact with the bony structure or the soft tissue abutting the bony structure, wherein the contact edge has a plurality of teeth to increase gripping. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification