Lead spacer tool

• US 9,067,056 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sage, Shahn S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US13/490,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 607 45- 46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3209 Incision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320056 Tunnelers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy

Abstract

A combined dissection tool and blank for implanting a paddle lead having an electrode portion and a lead body. The combined dissection tool and blank includes a blank with a maximum cross-sectional area substantially equal to a maximum cross sectional area of the electrode portion of the paddle lead. An elongated body portion is attached to the blank. A guide wire extends through the body portion substantially to a distal end of the blank. The guide wire provides sufficient column strength to separate fatty tissue to create a space for receiving the paddle lead.

Claims

1. A combined dissection tool and blank for implanting a paddle lead having an electrode portion and a lead body, the combined dissection tool and blank comprising:

a blank comprising a maximum cross-sectional area substantially equal to a maximum cross sectional area of the electrode portion of the paddle lead;

an elongated body portion attached to the blank; and

a guide wire extending through the body portion and the blank generally to a distal end of the blank, wherein the guide wire provides sufficient column strength to separate fatty tissue to create a space for receiving the paddle lead, the guide wire including a flattened distal portion including a flattened surface, the flattened distal portion being wider than a remainder of the guide wire, the distal portion being configured to allow bending in a first direction perpendicular to the flattened surface and resist bending in a second direction parallel to the flattened surface.

2. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the guide wire is molded within the body portion and blank.

3. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the guide wire is selectively disposed within a lumen that extends through the body portion and substantially through the blank.

4. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 3, comprising a plurality of guide wires sized to fit in the lumen, wherein at least two of the plurality of guide wires have at least one of a different stiffness, a different column strength, a different geometry, a different cross-sectional shape, and a different flexibility.

5. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a distal end configured to cut tissue.

6. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum width and a maximum thickness substantially the same as a maximum width and maximum thickness of the paddle lead.

7. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum width and a maximum thickness, each within +/−

10% or less of a maximum width and a maximum thickness of the paddle lead.

8. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum width and a maximum thickness, each within +/−

5% or less of a maximum width and a maximum thickness of the paddle lead.

9. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum width and a maximum thickness, each less than a maximum width and a maximum thickness of the paddle lead by within 10% or less.

10. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum width and a maximum thickness, each less than a maximum width and a maximum thickness of the paddle lead by within 5% or less.

11. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum cross-sectional area within +/−

10% or less of a maximum cross-sectional area of the paddle lead.

12. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the blank comprises a maximum cross-sectional area less than a maximum cross-sectional area of the paddle lead within 10% or less.

13. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the guide wire comprises a non-circular distal portion.

14. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein the guide wire extending along the blank comprises a non-circular distal portion configured to permit flexure generally perpendicular to a major surface of the blank, while inhibiting flexure parallel to the major surface of the blank.

15. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 1, wherein:

the blank includes a first length extending along a longitudinal axis of the combined dissection tool and blank; and

the flattened distal portion of the guide wire includes a second length extending along the longitudinal axis, the second length being substantially equal to or less than the first length.

16. A neurostimulation system comprising:

an implantable pulse generator;

a paddle lead comprising an electrode portion and a lead body;

a combined dissection tool and blank comprising;

a blank comprising a maximum cross-sectional area substantially equal to a maximum cross sectional area of the electrode portion of the paddle lead;

an elongated body portion attached to the blank; and

a guide wire extending through the body portion to substantially a distal end of the blank, wherein the guide wire provides sufficient column strength to separate fatty tissue to create a space for receiving the paddle lead, the guide wire including a flattened distal portion including a flattened surface, the flattened distal portion being wider than a remainder of the guide wire, the distal portion being configured to allow bending in a first direction perpendicular to the flattened surface and resist bending in a second direction parallel to the flattened surface.

17. The neurostimulation system of claim 16, wherein the guide wire is selectively disposed within a lumen that extends through the body portion and substantially through the blank.

18. The neurostimulation system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of guide wires sized to fit in the lumen, wherein at least two of the plurality of guide wires have at least one of a different stiffness, a different column strength, a different geometry, a different cross-sectional shape, and a different flexibility.

19. The neurostimulation system of claim 16, wherein the blank comprises a distal end configured to cut tissue.

20. The neurostimulation system of claim 16, wherein the blank includes a maximum width and a maximum thickness substantially the same as a maximum width and maximum thickness of the paddle lead.

21. The neurostimulation system of claim 16, wherein a portion of the guide wire extending along the blank includes a non-circular cross-sectional shape configured to permit flexure generally perpendicular to a major surface of the blank, while inhibiting flexure parallel to the major surface of the blank.

22. The neuro stimulation system of claim 16, wherein:

the blank includes a first length extending along a longitudinal axis of the combined dissection tool and blank; and

the flattened distal portion of the guide wire includes a second length extending along the longitudinal axis, the second length being substantially equal to or less than the first length.

23. An apparatus for implanting a paddle lead including an electrode portion and a lead body, the apparatus comprising:

a blank including a maximum cross-sectional area substantially equal to a maximum cross sectional area of the electrode portion of the paddle lead, the blank including a distal end configured to dissect tissue;

an elongated body portion attached to the blank; and

a guide wire extending through the body portion and the blank to a point proximate a distal end of the blank, wherein the guide wire is configured to provide sufficient column strength to separate fatty tissue to create a space for receiving the paddle lead, the guide wire including a flattened distal portion including a flattened surface, the flattened distal portion being wider than a remainder of the guide wire, the distal portion being configured to allow bending in a first direction perpendicular to the flattened surface and resist bending in a second direction parallel to the flattened surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the guide wire is removably disposed within a lumen that extends through the body portion and substantially through the blank.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, comprising a plurality of guide wires sized to fit in the lumen, wherein at least two of the plurality of guide wires have at least one of a different stiffness, a different column strength, a different geometry, a different cross-sectional shape, and a different flexibility.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the distal end of the blank is configured to cut tissue.

27. A combined dissection tool and blank for implanting a paddle lead having an electrode portion and a lead body, wherein at least the electrode portion of the paddle lead extends along a first longitudinal axis, the combined dissection tool and blank comprising:

a blank extending along a second longitudinal axis and comprising a maximum cross-sectional area perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis, the maximum cross-sectional area of the blank being substantially equal to a maximum cross sectional area of the electrode portion of the paddle lead extending along the first longitudinal axis;

an elongated body portion attached to the blank; and

a guide wire molded within and extending through the body portion and the blank generally to a distal end of the blank, wherein the guide wire provides sufficient column strength to separate fatty tissue to create a space for receiving the paddle lead, the guide wire including a flattened distal portion including a flattened surface, the flattened distal portion being wider than a remainder of the guide wire, the distal portion being configured to allow bending in a first direction perpendicular to the flattened surface and resist bending in a second direction parallel to the flattened surface.

28. The combined dissection tool and blank of claim 27, wherein:

the blank includes a first length extending along a longitudinal blank axis of the combined dissection tool and blank; and

the flattened distal portion of the guide wire includes a second length extending along the longitudinal blank axis, the second length being substantially equal to or less than the first length.