Implantable medical electrical lead with light-activated adhesive fixation
First Claim
1. A medical electrical lead adapted to conduct electrical stimulation from an implantable or external electrical stimulator to a site of the epicardium and to conduct electrical signals of the heart from the site to the implantable or external electrical stimulator comprising:
- an elongated lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end;
an electrode head formed at the lead body distal end having a plate adapted to bear against the epicardium, the electrode head supporting a first distal electrode; and
a fixation mechanism comprising a light-activated adhesive disposed upon the plate that is sensitive to a predetermined bandwidth of light to adhere the plate to the epicardium while the plate is applied against the epicardium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical electrical leads adapted to be implanted within the body, and particularly such leads having at least one distal electrode affixed at a site of a body organ, particularly the epicardium of the heart, employing a light-activated adhesive fixation, and methods and systems for accessing the site, applying the distal electrode to the site, and activating the light-activated adhesive. The lead is preferably implanted by performing a thoracoscopy of the thorax of the patient to visualize the site of the epicardium through a thoracoscope and to provide a pathway to the site of the epicardium. While viewing the site of the epicardium through the thoracoscope, the electrode head is inserted through the provided pathway to apply the plate against the site of the epicardium, and the light-activated adhesive is exposed to a predetermined bandwidth of light to adhere the plate to the epicardium. An elongated introduction tool is selectively operable to grasp and release the electrode head and to conduct light of the predetermined bandwidth to the electrode plate. The introduction tool preferably has an opaque sidewall enclosing a plurality of optical fibers distributed around the circumference of and within the sidewall of the introduction tool to extend lengthwise to the introduction tool distal end, whereby the plurality of optical fiber distal ends are capable of emitting light of the predetermined frequency in a substantially cylindrical emission pattern. The light-activated adhesive comprises one of a light-activated acrylic or cyanoacrylate adhesive that is activated by ultraviolet light that is activated by ultraviolet light. The lead body is formed with a strain relief proximal to the electrode head for absorbing strain placed on the lead body from being transmitted to the electrode head at the lead body distal end and absorbing the strain induced in the lead body by movement of the body organ, e.g., the contraction and expansion of the heart.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A medical electrical lead adapted to conduct electrical stimulation from an implantable or external electrical stimulator to a site of the epicardium and to conduct electrical signals of the heart from the site to the implantable or external electrical stimulator comprising:
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an elongated lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end;
an electrode head formed at the lead body distal end having a plate adapted to bear against the epicardium, the electrode head supporting a first distal electrode; and
a fixation mechanism comprising a light-activated adhesive disposed upon the plate that is sensitive to a predetermined bandwidth of light to adhere the plate to the epicardium while the plate is applied against the epicardium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of implanting a medical electrical lead to conduct electrical stimulation from an implantable or external electrical stimulator to a site of the epicardium and to conduct electrical signals of the heart from the site to the implantable or external electrical stimulator comprising:
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providing a medical electrical lead having;
an elongated lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end;
an electrode head formed at the lead body distal end having a plate adapted to bear against the epicardium, the electrode head supporting a first distal electrode; and
a fixation mechanism comprising a light-activated adhesive disposed upon the plate;
forming a incision through the thorax of the patient to access the site of the epicardium;
inserting the electrode head through the incision to apply the plate against the site of the epicardium; and
exposing the light-activated adhesive to a predetermined bandwidth of light transmitted through the incision to adhere the plate to the epicardium. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of implanting a medical electrical lead to conduct electrical stimulation from an implantable or external electrical stimulator to a site of the epicardium and to conduct electrical signals of the heart from the site to the implantable or external electrical stimulator comprising:
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providing a medical electrical lead having;
an elongated lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end;
an electrode head formed at the lead body distal end having a plate adapted to bear against the epicardium, the electrode head supporting a first distal electrode; and
a fixation mechanism comprising a light-activated adhesive disposed upon the plate;
performing a thoracoscopy of the thorax of the patient to visualize the site of the epicardium through a thoracoscope and to provide a pathway to the site of the epicardium; and
while viewing the site of the epicardium through the thoracoscope, inserting the electrode head through the provided pathway to apply the plate against the site of the epicardium; and
exposing the light-activated adhesive to a predetermined bandwidth of light to adhere the plate to the epicardium. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for implanting a medical electrical lead to conduct electrical stimulation from an implantable or external electrical stimulator to a site of the epicardium and to conduct electrical signals of the heart from the site to the implantable or external electrical stimulator comprising:
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A medical electrical lead having;
an elongated lead body extending from a lead body proximal end to a lead body distal end;
an electrode head formed at the lead body distal end having a plate adapted to bear against the epicardium, the electrode head supporting a first distal electrode; and
a fixation mechanism comprising a light-activated adhesive disposed upon the plate;
means for forming first and second pathways through a patient'"'"'s thoracic wall to access the site of the epicardium;
a thoracoscope adapted to be inserted through the first pathway surgically made through the patient'"'"'s thoracic wall to visualize the site of the epicardium; and
means for inserting the electrode head through the second pathway to apply the plate against the site of the epicardium and to expose the light-activated adhesive to a predetermined bandwidth of light to adhere the plate to the epicardium. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification