Neural stimulating lead with fixation canopy formation
First Claim
1. A neural stimulating lead comprising a hollow lead body having a distal electrode assembly including a side electrode on one side of said lead body and an active fixation stabilizing structure comprising laterally extending vertebra engaging means, dorsal stabilizing means including a movable membrane on the side of said lead body oposite said one side, and means for moving said membrane from a retracted position to an extended position where said membrane engages a dorsal wall of a vertebra for fixing said lead within an epidural space of the vertebra of a spine, said moving means comprising an expandable material and actuating means for causing said expandable material to swell and expand against said membrane, said expandable material comprising a hydrogel and said actuating means including a wetting agent for wetting said hydrogel to cause said hydrogel to swell and expand against said membrane to forms a fixation canopy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The neural stimulating lead includes a hollow lead body and an active fixation stabilizing structure. The stabilizing structure comprises two pairs of laterally projecting vanes and an extendable membrane on a dorsal surface of the lead body adapted to be extended to apply pressure against a dorsal surface of a vertebra to force and hold an electrode on the opposite surface of the lead body against the dura of the spinal cord. The membrane forms a canopy which is extended by causing an expandable material to expand against the membrane when actuated by an actuating material inserted into the lead body.
352 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A neural stimulating lead comprising a hollow lead body having a distal electrode assembly including a side electrode on one side of said lead body and an active fixation stabilizing structure comprising laterally extending vertebra engaging means, dorsal stabilizing means including a movable membrane on the side of said lead body oposite said one side, and means for moving said membrane from a retracted position to an extended position where said membrane engages a dorsal wall of a vertebra for fixing said lead within an epidural space of the vertebra of a spine, said moving means comprising an expandable material and actuating means for causing said expandable material to swell and expand against said membrane, said expandable material comprising a hydrogel and said actuating means including a wetting agent for wetting said hydrogel to cause said hydrogel to swell and expand against said membrane to forms a fixation canopy.
Specification