Lead delivery device and method

• US 9,775,990 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Drake, Ronald A., Spear, Stanten C., Tobin, Lindsey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YABUT, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US12/569,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,925 Days
• Field of Search: 606129, 607116, 607119, 607122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22047 Means for immobilising the guide wire in the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22048 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. An elongated lead advancement member is coupled to a delivery shaft. The delivery shaft is inserted to the target site. The delivery shaft is temporarily attached to the target site using a fixator. A medical lead is inserted over the lead advancement member and pushed over the lead advancement member toward the target site.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site within a cardiac vein, the method comprising:

attaching a distal end portion of an elongated lead advancement member around a delivery shaft;

inserting the delivery shaft to the target site;

attaching temporarily the delivery shaft to the target site in the cardiac vein using a fixator, an entirety of the fixator being located distal to an entirety of the attached elongated lead advancement member;

inserting the medical lead over the attached lead advancement member, while the delivery shaft is attached to the target site by the fixator; and

pushing the medical lead over the lead advancement member and to the target site in the cardiac vein, at which the fixator attaches the delivery shaft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the medical lead over the lead advancement member includes passing the lead advancement member through a longitudinal lumen of the medical lead.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising tensioning the lead advancement member, while pushing the lead over the member, wherein the lead advancement member is flexible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the distal end portion of the elongated lead advancement member around the delivery shaft comprises looping and tying the end portion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detaching the fixator from the target site, after pushing the lead to the target site; and

pulling the delivery shaft away from the target site, after detaching the fixator.

6. A lead delivery device comprising:

a medical lead comprising a longitudinal lumen,

a delivery shaft having a shaft cross-sectional area along a length thereof and including a temporary fixator that terminates a distal end of the shaft, wherein the temporary fixator is configurable to a cross-sectional area greater than the shaft cross-sectional area to temporarily attach the delivery shaft to a target site in a cardiac vein; and

a lead advancement member configured and sized to pass through the longitudinal lumen of the medical lead, the lead advancement member including a connector at a distal end portion thereof, the connector being attached around a portion of the delivery shaft having the shaft cross-sectional which is proximal to an entirety of the temporary fixator located separate of the portion of the delivery shaft having the shaft cross-sectional area.

7. The lead delivery device of claim 6, wherein the lead advancement member comprises a flexible member that passes through the longitudinal lumen of the medical lead, the flexible member having a stiffness allowing the medical lead to be pushed over the flexible member to the target site when the flexible member is in tension.

8. The lead delivery device of claim 6, wherein the connector of the lead advancement member comprises a ring.

9. A method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site, the method comprising:

attaching a distal end portion of a flexible lead advancement member around a delivery shaft;

inserting the delivery shaft to the target site;

attaching temporarily the delivery shaft to the target site using a fixator, an entirety of the fixator being located distal to an entirety of the attached lead advancement member;

threading a stiff portion through a longitudinal lumen of the medical lead to insert the medical lead over the attached flexible lead advancement member, while the delivery shaft is attached to the target site by the fixator, the stiff portion being attached to a proximal end of the flexible lead advancement member; and

pushing the medical lead over the flexible lead advancement member and to the target site, at which the fixator attaches the delivery shaft.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein attaching the distal end portion of the flexible lead advancement member around the delivery shaft comprises looping and tying the end portion.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detaching the fixator from the target site, after pushing the lead to the target site; and

pulling the delivery shaft away from the target site, after detaching the fixator.