Systems and methods for making and using a lead introducer for an implantable electrical stimulation system
First Claim
1. A lead introducer comprising:
- an outer needle comprisingan outer-needle body having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal length,a sharpened distal tip disposed along the distal end portion of the outer-needle body, andan open channel extending along the entire longitudinal length of the outer-needle body;
an inner needle configured and arranged for sliding along the open channel of the outer needle, the inner needle comprisingan inner-needle body having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal length,a blunt distal tip disposed along the distal end portion of the inner-needle body, andan inner-needle proximal hub attached to the proximal end portion of the inner-needle body;
a biasing element coupled to the inner-needle body, the biasing element configured and arranged to facilitate a transition of the distal tip of the inner needle between a distally-biased position, where the distal tip of the inner needle obstructs the sharpened distal tip of the outer needle, and a retracted position, where the distal tip of the inner needle at least partially exposes the distal tip of the outer needle; and
a splittable member having at least one perforated region extending along a longitudinal length of the splittable member, the splittable member configured and arranged for disposing over the outer-needle body and the inner-needle body when the inner-needle body is disposed in the open channel of the outer-needle body and for separating from the outer-needle body and the inner-needle body by separating along the at least one perforated region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lead introducer includes an outer needle with a sharpened distal tip and an open channel extending along an entire length of the outer needle. An inner needle slides along the open channel of the outer needle. The inner needle includes a blunt distal tip. A biasing element is coupled to the inner needle and facilitates transition of the inner-needle distal tip between a distally-biased position, where the inner-needle distal tip obstructs the sharpened outer-needle distal tip, and a retracted position, where the inner-needle distal tip exposes the sharpened outer-needle distal tip. A splittable member is disposable over the outer needle when the inner needle is disposed in the open channel of the outer needle. The splittable member is separatable from the inner and outer needles along at least one perforated region.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lead introducer comprising:
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an outer needle comprising an outer-needle body having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal length, a sharpened distal tip disposed along the distal end portion of the outer-needle body, and an open channel extending along the entire longitudinal length of the outer-needle body; an inner needle configured and arranged for sliding along the open channel of the outer needle, the inner needle comprising an inner-needle body having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal length, a blunt distal tip disposed along the distal end portion of the inner-needle body, and an inner-needle proximal hub attached to the proximal end portion of the inner-needle body; a biasing element coupled to the inner-needle body, the biasing element configured and arranged to facilitate a transition of the distal tip of the inner needle between a distally-biased position, where the distal tip of the inner needle obstructs the sharpened distal tip of the outer needle, and a retracted position, where the distal tip of the inner needle at least partially exposes the distal tip of the outer needle; and a splittable member having at least one perforated region extending along a longitudinal length of the splittable member, the splittable member configured and arranged for disposing over the outer-needle body and the inner-needle body when the inner-needle body is disposed in the open channel of the outer-needle body and for separating from the outer-needle body and the inner-needle body by separating along the at least one perforated region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification