Method and apparatus for deflecting a screw-in lead

• US 20040249312A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gardeski, Kenneth C., Clemens, William J., Odegard, Jeremy J., Poor, Corinne A.G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/058 Fixing tools

Abstract

A deflectable stylet system optimized for use in conjunction with a lead of the type having a fixation helix that is screwed into body tissue by rotation of the lead'"'"'s connector pin is disclosed. The system includes an attachment that is rotatable and longitudinally slidable with respect to the handle of a deflectable stylet. A lead coupled to the attachment may be moved longitudinally with respect to a stylet to account for slight variances in the lead length. In one embodiment, the attachment couples to the lead via a pushbutton mechanism that can be locked to the lead using one hand. The attachment may be rotated to thereby rotate the lead connector. This allows for retraction and extension of a retractable fixation helix, and for further attachment or detachment of a fixation helix to adjacent tissue. In one embodiment, the attachment may be longitudinally rigidly positioned in predetermined locations with respect to the handle. According to another aspect of the system, a deflection device is coupled to the handle to facilitate deflection of the stylet. In one embodiment, this deflection device may be rotatably and/or slidably activated to accomplish the stylet deflection. The system allows a user to adjust lead length with respect to the stylet length, and to further perform stylet deflection and lead rotation all with one hand.

Claims

1-8. -8. (Canceled)

9. A deflectable stylet system, comprising:

a deflectable stylet having a stylet portion and a handle with a distally facing recess, mounted at a proximal end of the stylet portion;

an attachment mounted rotatably around the deflectable stylet portion and slidable longitudinally relative to the handle, the attachment comprising means for coupling the attachment to a proximal end of a lead in which the stylet portion is inserted, and a proximally extending member slidably and rotatably located in the distally facing recess of the handle.

10. The system of claim 9, and further including a device to deflect the stylet mounted on the handle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the device to deflect the stylet is a knob mounted rotatably on a distal end of the handle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the device to deflect the stylet is a knob that is slidable longitudinally with respect to the handle.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for coupling the attachment to a proximal end of a lead is a pushbutton capable of being in a first unlocked position to receive a proximal end of a lead, and a second locked position to couple to the lead.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for coupling the attachment to a proximal end of a lead is a threaded fastening device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the handle includes a member adapted to position the attachment in a selectable longitudinal position relative to the handle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the member is adapted to rigidly position the attachment at selectable discrete longitudinal positions with respect to the handle.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the handle includes a pin member to allow the attachment to be slidably positioned along at least a portion of the length of the pin member.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the device to deflect the stylet is a knob that is slidable longitudinally with respect to the handle.

18. A deflectable stylet system, comprising:

a deflectable stylet having a stylet portion and a handle mounted at a proximal end of the stylet portion, the handle comprising a distally extending member;

an attachment mounted rotatably around the deflectable stylet portion and slidable longitudinally relative to the handle, the attachment comprising means for coupling the attachment to a proximal end of a lead in which the stylet portion is inserted and a member slidably and rotatably located around the distally extending member of the handle.

19. The stylet system of claim 18, wherein the handle further comprises a distally facing recess and wherein the attachment further comprises a proximally extending member slidably and rotatably located in the distally facing recess of the handle.

20. The stylet system of claim 18, wherein the means for coupling the attachment to a proximal end of a lead includes a pushbutton to receive a proximal end of a lead when in an unlocked position, and to rigidly couple the lead to the attachment when in a locked position.

21. The stylet system of claim 18, wherein the handle includes a member that is rotatable with respect to the handle, and wherein rotation of the member facilitates deflection of the deflectable stylet.

22. The stylet system of claim 18, wherein the handle portion includes a member that is slidable longitudinally with respect to the handle, and wherein longitudinal movement of the member facilitates deflection of the deflectable stylet.

23. The stylet system of claim 18, wherein the distally extending member of the handle includes means to allow the attachment to be rigidly positioned longitudinally at selectable locations along the distally extending member.

24. The stylet system of claim 18 wherein the distally extending member of the handle is adapted to allow the attachment to be slidably positioned longitudinally at any location along at least a portion of the distally extending member.

26. The stylet system of claim 23 wherein the distally extending member of the handle is adapted to allow the attachment to be slidably positioned longitudinally at any location along at least a portion of the distally extending member.