Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8019438?dq=7,249,099
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 23:20:49
Document Index: 41099314

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 12']

Patent US8019438 - Anchor for electrode delivery system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention is device for delivering an electrode into a lateral vein of the coronary sinus. The device includes a support structure, a stent, a tether coupled to the stent and a removable sheath disposed about the stent. The stent is carried on the support structure and is deployable from...http://www.google.com/patents/US8019438?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8019438 - Anchor for electrode delivery systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8019438 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/168,282Publication dateSep 13, 2011Filing dateJun 28, 2005Priority dateJun 28, 2005Also published asUS20060293741Publication number11168282, 168282, US 8019438 B2, US 8019438B2, US-B2-8019438, US8019438 B2, US8019438B2InventorsEric T. Johnson, Bruce A. TockmanOriginal AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (40), Classifications (19), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAnchor for electrode delivery systemUS 8019438 B2Abstract The present invention is device for delivering an electrode into a lateral vein of the coronary sinus. The device includes a support structure, a stent, a tether coupled to the stent and a removable sheath disposed about the stent. The stent is carried on the support structure and is deployable from a first collapsed configuration to a second expanded configuration for engaging the inner walls of the selected vessel. The sheath is sized to retain the stent in the first collapsed configuration. The electrode is carried on the stent or on a lead threaded over the tether.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for delivering cardiac leads into the heart. The present invention further relates to a cardiac lead and a device for delivering a cardiac lead into a distal portion of a branch vessel of the coronary sinus.
BACKGROUND Cardiac function management systems are used to treat arrhythmias and other abnormal heart conditions. Such systems generally include cardiac leads implanted in the heart for delivering an electrical pulse to the cardiac muscle, for sensing electrical signals produced in the cardiac muscle, or for both delivering and sensing. The lead typically consists of a flexible conductor defining a central channel or lumen surrounded by an insulating sheath extending from an electrode at a distal end to a connector pin at a proximal end.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one embodiment, the present invention is an electrode delivery system for delivering an electrode into a coronary vein. The electrode delivery system includes a support structure having a proximal end and a distal end, a stent, a tether and a removable sheath. The stent is deployable from a first collapsed configuration to a second expanded configuration, is removably coupled about the distal end of the support structure and is sized to receive at least a portion of a lead. The tether is coupled to the stent and has a first portion extending distal to the stent and a second portion extending proximally from the first portion. The removable sheath is disposed around the stent and is sized to retain the stent in the first collapsed configuration. In the second configuration, the stent frictionally engages the coronary vein to anchor the tether. The support structure may be a guide catheter or a cardiac lead. The stent may include an electrode electrically coupled to the tether.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a cardiac rhythm management system implanted in a heart according to one embodiment of the present invention relative to a portion of the vasculature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a cardiac rhythm management (�CRM�) system 10 deployed in a human heart 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The CRM system 10 includes a pulse generator 14, a lead body 16 coupled to the pulse generator 14, and an electrode delivery system 18. The lead 16 extends from a proximal end 20 coupled to the pulse generator 14 to a distal end 22 implanted in a branch vein of the coronary sinus 26. The lead 16 delivers electrical signals from the pulse generator 14 to an electrode 28 located at the distal end 22 to accomplish pacing of the heart 12. Once positioned in, for example, a branch of the great cardiac vein 30, the lead 16 can be used to sense the electrical activity of the heart 12 or to apply a stimulating pulse to the heart 12. In other embodiments, the lead 16 is positioned in any other branch vein of the coronary sinus 26 as is known in the art of cardiac function management. For example, it may be positioned in the left marginal vein 32, the left posterior ventricular vein 34, the middle cardiac vein 36 or the small cardiac vein 38.
FIGS. 2A-2E show side views of the electrode delivery system 18 of FIG. 1 in various configurations during the lead anchor implantation process. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the electrode delivery system 18 includes a stent-like mechanism 40 coupled to a flexible tether 42, a support structure such as a catheter 43, and a sheath 46. The stent-like mechanism 40 can have any of a variety of configurations in which the stent-like mechanism 40 is deployable from a first collapsed configuration to a second expanded configuration adapted to engage the inner walls of a vessel of the heart 12 with sufficient force to prevent dislocation. Although not limited to having a structure similar to a stent as is known in the art of cardiac stents, the stent-like mechanism 40 will hereinafter be referred to as �stent� 40 for convenience.
The stent 40 is optionally coated with a pharmacological, therapeutic or other agent or is formed from a drug-eluting material as is known in the art. According to one embodiment, the stent 40 is coated with a steroid. According to some embodiments, either or both of the tether 42 and stent 40 are formed from a material that is bioabsorbable or biodegradable. Such a bioabsorbable or biodegradable material may be chosen to dissolve after a period of time sufficient for encapsulation tissue to form around the lead 16 and fix the lead 16 in place near the implant site. According to one embodiment, the stent 40 is provided with a coating for preventing tissue ingrowth. Reduced tissue ingrowth would facilitate re-positioning or removal after an extended period of implantation. Such a coating might be a polymer, such as silicone or polyurethane. Alternately, the stent 40 is coated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a microporous material used in GORETEX� fabrics. The porous structure of ePTFE is sized to permit fluid passage, while blocking tissue ingrowth.
FIG. 6A shows the stent 40 deployed in the great cardiac vein 30 extending over the epicardial surface 60 of the heart 12. A substantial portion of the stent 40 is covered or coated with an insulating material 62 which extends over approximately 270 degrees circumferentially about the stent 40, while approximately 90� remains exposed, forming an electrically active region 64 extending axially for the length of the stent 40. In another embodiment, the insulating material 62 extends from about 150 to about 300 degrees circumferentially about the stent 40.
According to one embodiment, the electrode delivery system 18 may be used to take preliminary electrical readings (e.g., pacing threshold) to �map� the adjacent tissue. Such readings are used to determine whether the tissue is appropriate for electrical stimulation. The stent 40 is partially deployed, i.e., only a portion of the sheath 46 is removed, as in FIG. 2B, allowing a small region of the stent 40 or the electrode 70 to deploy and make contact with the heart 12. After such partial deployment, electrical readings are taken. If the site is appropriate for electrode placement, the remainder of the sheath 46 is removed and the stent 40 is fully deployed. If the site is not appropriate for electrode placement, the partial deployment is reversed. This is accomplished by, for example, withdrawing the stent 40 into the sheath 46 or replacing the portion of the sheath 46 that was removed. The stent 40 is repositioned to locate a more appropriate site for sensing and/or pacing. Depending upon the degree of deployment, it may not be necessary to reverse the deployment to reposition the stent 40. Instead, the stent 40 may simply be advanced, withdrawn or rotated while in this partially deployed configuration. In one embodiment, electrical readings are used to optimize the radial disposition of the exposed region 64, as shown in FIG. 6A, of the stent 40.
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TOCKMAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016458 FRAME 0400;ASSIGNORS:JOHNSON, ERIC T.;TOCKMAN, BRUCE A.;REEL/FRAME:016595/0654;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050623 TO 20050628Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE OF ASSIGNOR BRUCE A. TOCKMAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016458 FRAME 0400. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE EXECUTION DATE OF ASSIGNOR BRUCE A. TOCKMAN IS JUNE 28, 2005.;ASSIGNORS:JOHNSON, ERIC T.;TOCKMAN, BRUCE A.;REEL/FRAME:016595/0654;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050623 TO 20050628Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE OF ASSIGNOR BRUCE A. TOCKMAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016458 FRAME 0400. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE EXECUTION DATE OF ASSIGNOR BRUCE A. TOCKMAN IS JUNE 28, 2005;ASSIGNORS:JOHNSON, ERIC T.;TOCKMAN, BRUCE A.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050623 TO 20050628;REEL/FRAME:016595/0654Aug 26, 2005ASAssignmentOwner name: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC., MINNESOTAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:JOHNSON, ERIC T.;TOCKMAN, BRUCE A.;REEL/FRAME:016458/0400Effective date: 20050623RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google