Cuff electrode with integrated tendril

• US 9,320,889 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Jackson, Timothy R., Soltis, Brian D., True, Kyle P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US14/176,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/118, 607/122, 607/125
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

A neurostimulation lead includes a lead body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a first conductor extending through the lead body. An electrode cuff can be secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body. The electrode cuff includes a cuff body, a first tendril extending from a first region of the cuff body, a second tendril extending from a second region of the cuff body and a first electrode disposed on the cuff body and electrically connected to the first conductor.

Claims

1. A neurostimulation lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a first conductor extending through the lead body; and

an electrode cuff secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body, the electrode cuff including;

a cuff body having a first region and a second region;

a first tendril extending from the first region of the cuff body, the first tendril biased to a curved configuration;

a second tendril extending from the second region of the cuff body, the second tendril biased to a curved configuration; and

a first electrode disposed on the cuff body and electrically connected to the first conductor.

2. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the first tendril extends from the first region of the cuff body at an acute angle and is biased to curve in a first direction.

3. The neurostimulation lead of claim 2, wherein the second tendril extends from the second region of the cuff body at an acute angle and is biased to curve in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the first tendril extends substantially perpendicularly from the first region of the cuff body.

5. The neurostimulation lead of claim 4, wherein the second tendril extends substantially perpendicularly from the second region of the cuff body.

6. The neurostimulation lead of claim 5, wherein the first tendril and the second tendril both extend in a same direction from the cuff body.

7. The neurostimulation lead of claim 5, wherein the first tendril and the second tendril extend in opposite directions from the cuff body.

8. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, further comprising:

a second conductor extending through the lead body; and

a second electrode disposed on the cuff body and electrically connected to the second conductor.

9. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, further comprising:

a first suture molded into and extending through the first tendril; and

a second suture molded into and extending through the second tendril.

10. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the cuff body is configured to extend less than about 360 degrees about the nerve.

11. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the first and second tendrils are each configured to extend more than about 360 degrees about the nerve.

12. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the cuff body is configured to be wrapped around the nerve, thereby extending more than about 360 degrees about the nerve.

13. The neurostimulation lead of claim 1, wherein the first tendril and the second tendril are portions of a unitary tendril, the unitary tendril biased to a wrapping direction that reverses direction near a midpoint of the unitary tendril.

14. A neurostimulation lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a first conductor extending through the lead body;

a second conductor extending through the lead body; and

a first cuff secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body, the first cuff including;

a first cuff body;

a first tendril extending from the first cuff body, the first tendril biased to a curved configuration in which the first tendril curves in a first direction;

a second tendril extending from the first cuff body, the second tendril biased to a curved configuration in which the second tendril curves in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a first electrode disposed on the first cuff body and electrically connected to the first conductor; and

a second cuff secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body, the second cuff including;

a second cuff body;

a third tendril extending from the second cuff body, the third tendril biased to a curved configuration in which the third tendril curves in a third direction;

a fourth tendril extending from the second cuff body, the fourth tendril biased to a curved configuration in which the fourth tendril curves in a fourth direction opposite the third direction; and

a second electrode disposed on the second cuff body and electrically connected to the second conductor.

15. The neurostimulation lead of claim 14, wherein the first cuff is secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body via a first lead extension, the first lead extension secured to the lead body and the first cuff being attached to the first lead extension.

16. The neurostimulation lead of claim 14, wherein the second cuff is secured relative to the distal portion of the lead body via a second lead extension, the second lead extension secured to the lead body and the second cuff being attached to the second lead extension.

17. The neurostimulation lead of claim 14, further comprising a strain relief secured to the distal portion of the lead body.

18. The neurostimulation lead of claim 14, wherein the first direction is the same as the third direction, and the second direction is the same as the fourth direction.