Subcutaneous lead guidance
First Claim
1. An apparatus for subcutaneous lead guidance comprising:
- a flexible guide strap having a first end and a second end, the guide strap adapted to be attachable on a patient'"'"'s skin to extend along a planned tunneling path between the first end positioned adjacent an incision and the second end positioned adjacent a target site;
a shielded flexible circuit and a plurality of induction coils attached to the guide strap to define the planned tunneling path from the incision to the target site;
a tunneling tool having a distal portion with a leading end and at least one position sensor on the distal portion; and
a feedback device coupled to the tunneling tool and the flexible circuit and configured to generate a first feedback signal as the leading end approaches the target site within the planned tunneling path and a second feedback signal different than the first feedback signal if the leading end veers off the planned tunneling path.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for subcutaneous lead guidance includes a flexible guide strap, a navigation catheter and a tunneling tool. The guide strap includes an upper layer having a plurality of retainer formations and a substrate attachable on a patient'"'"'s skin extending between an incision and a target site. The navigation catheter is coupled to the upper layer via the retainer formations from a first end to a second end of the guide strap. The navigation catheter includes a plurality of position sensors for generating a subcutaneous navigation volume between the incision and the target site when the navigation catheter is coupled to a navigation system. The tunneling tool has a distal portion with a leading end and at least one position sensor on the distal portion for viewing digital representation of the distal portion in relation to the navigation volume on a display coupled to the navigation system.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for subcutaneous lead guidance comprising:
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a flexible guide strap having a first end and a second end, the guide strap adapted to be attachable on a patient'"'"'s skin to extend along a planned tunneling path between the first end positioned adjacent an incision and the second end positioned adjacent a target site; a shielded flexible circuit and a plurality of induction coils attached to the guide strap to define the planned tunneling path from the incision to the target site; a tunneling tool having a distal portion with a leading end and at least one position sensor on the distal portion; and a feedback device coupled to the tunneling tool and the flexible circuit and configured to generate a first feedback signal as the leading end approaches the target site within the planned tunneling path and a second feedback signal different than the first feedback signal if the leading end veers off the planned tunneling path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for subcutaneous lead guidance comprising:
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attaching a first end of a substrate of a flexible guide strap on a patient'"'"'s skin adjacent to an incision site and a second end of the substrate over a target site, the guide strap including a shielded flexible circuit with a plurality of induction coils extending between the first end and the second end defining a planned tunneling path from the incision site to the target site; guiding a tunneling tool subcutaneously through the incision to the target site without fluoroscopic assistance, the tunneling tool having at least one position sensor coupled to a distal portion of the tunneling tool; and enabling a feedback device coupled to the guide strap and the tunneling tool to measure a position signal from the position sensor and the induction coils and in response to the position signal generate a first feedback signal if the position sensor approaches the target site along the planned tunneling path and a second feedback signal different than the first feedback signal if the position sensor veers off the planned tunneling path to assist a user in advancing the leading end to the target site. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification