Patent ID: 11865331
Assignee: ADVANCED NEUROMODULATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus for supporting peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) of living being tissue, the apparatus comprising:
a first introducer having a first curved introducer shaft with a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first curved introducer shaft shaped to have a first curved portion proximate to the first distal end, the first proximal end including an introducer hub;
a first stylet configured to be inserted within the first introducer to form an introducer needle assembly, the first stylet having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end of the first stylet including a stylet hub, the first stylet including a second curved portion having a shape that matches a shape of the first curved portion of the first introducer, wherein:
the stylet hub includes a nub configured to fit into a recess of the introducer hub to indicate a direction of curvature of the first distal end,
the first curved portion and the second curved portion are manufactured to have a magnitude of a first angle of curvature of fifteen degrees, twenty five degrees, or thirty five degrees off of a sagittal plane of a patient to facilitate placement of a lead proximate to a subdermal region of a spine of the patient, and
the first introducer and the first stylet are included in a kit,
the kit includes a plurality of introducers and a plurality of stylets in addition to the first introducer and the first stylet,
a second introducer and a second stylet of the plurality of introducers and stylets include, respectively, a third curved portion and a fourth curved portion, each having a second magnitude of a second angle of curvature of fifteen degrees, twenty five degrees, or thirty five degrees off of the sagittal plane of the patient, wherein the second angle of curvature is different from the first angle of curvature,
the first angle of curvature and the second angle of curvature are selected to facilitate placement of the lead proximate to the subdermal region of the spine of the patient, and
the subdermal region includes oligodendrocytes that contain A Beta fibers;

a grip fitted over the introducer hub, the grip severed to permit releasable attachment from the introducer hub; the grip including a pair of transverse elements configured to provide for manipulating and controlling movement of the first curved portion proximate to the first distal end of the first introducer;
the pair of transverse elements configured to facilitate application of posterior pressure sufficient, at the first proximal end, to cause the first curved portion proximate to the first distal end to tent tissue at the first distal end; and
the first curved introducer shaft including a passageway configured to receive a lead to be positioned proximate to the subdermal region.