MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEAD WITH EXPANDABLE FIXATION FEATURES

• US 20070282414A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltis, Brian D., Tockman, Bruce A., Stalker, Kent C. B., Johnson, Eric T., D'Aquanni, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

A medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a cardiac vessel includes a fixation feature operable to change from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the fixation feature is adapted to engage an inner surface of the cardiac vessel. A tendon is disposed within a lumen of the lead and is operatively connected to the fixation feature and adapted to cause the fixation feature to change from the undeployed configuration to the deployed configuration for acute and/or chronic fixation of the lead. In one embodiment, the fixation feature includes a deflectable region of the lead which in the deployed configuration causes a surface of the lead body to engage the inner surface of the cardiac vessel. In another embodiment, the fixation feature includes a radially expandable structure for engaging the inner surface of the vessel in the deployed configuration.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead configured to be partially implanted in a cardiac vessel, the lead comprising:

an elongate body defining a proximal region and a distal region,

the distal region including;

an electrode on the body; and

a fixation feature including a radially expandable structure having a first end fixedly attached to the body and a second end slidably coupled to the body, the radially expandable structure adapted to change from a radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration;

a conductor disposed within the body and electrically coupled to the electrode; and

a tendon housed at least partially within the body and operatively connected to the second end of the radially expandable structure to facilitate selection between the radially collapsed and radially expanded configurations of the radially expandable structure.

2. The lead of claim 1 wherein the fixation feature further includes a floating member slidably coupled to the body and fixedly attached to the second end of radially expandable structure.

3. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure is adapted to assume the radially expanded configuration when a tensile force is applied to the tendon.

4. The lead of claim 1 wherein the fixation feature is adapted to assume the radially collapsed configuration when a tensile force is applied to the tendon.

5. The lead of claim 1 wherein the distal region further includes a retention structure on the lead body adapted to retain the radially expandable portion in the radially expanded configuration.

6. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure includes a generally cylindrical stent structure.

7. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure includes a bellows.

8. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure includes at least one rib.

9. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure is a sheath.

10. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure includes a self-expanding structure.

11. The lead of claim 10 wherein the self-expanding structure includes a generally cylindrical stent-like structure.

12. The lead of claim 10 wherein the self-expanding structure includes at least one rib.

13. The lead of claim 10 wherein the self-expanding structure is made substantially from a shape memory material.

14. The lead of claim 1 wherein the tendon includes a lubricious coating.

15. The lead of claim 1 wherein the radially expandable structure includes a polymer coating.

16. A medical electrical lead comprising:

an elongate body defining a proximal region and a distal region adapted to be at least partially implanted in a vessel;

radially expandable fixation means in the distal region for engaging an inner surface of the vessel, the radially expandable fixation means operable to change from a radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration;

a lumen extending from the proximal region to at least the radially expandable fixation means; and

a tendon disposed within the lumen operatively connected to the radially expandable fixation means, wherein the tendon is operable to facilitate selection between the radially collapsed and radially expanded configurations of the radially expandable fixation means.

17. The lead of claim 16 wherein the radially expandable fixation means assumes the radially collapsed configuration when a tensile force is applied to the tendon.

18. The lead of claim 16 wherein the radially expandable structure assumes the radially expanded configuration when a tensile force is applied to the tendon.

19. A method for fixation of a medical electrical lead in a coronary vessel, the lead including a conductor, a distal fixation feature, and a tendon disposed within the lead and operatively connected to the fixation feature, the method comprising:

transvenously delivering the lead such that the fixation feature is positioned within the coronary vessel in a radially collapsed configuration; and

removing a tensile force in the tendon such that the fixation feature assumes a radially expanded configuration and engages a wall of the coronary vessel.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein removing the tensile force in the tendon allows a self-expanding structure of the fixation feature to radially expand and engage the wall of the coronary vessel.