Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7860568?dq=ascentive
Timestamp: 2013-12-11 11:48:57
Document Index: 24783605

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 232', 'art 232', 'art 234', 'art 232', 'art 234', 'art 232', 'art 234', 'art 234', 'art 234', 'art 232']

Patent US7860568 - Lead retention assembly for implantable medical device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Advanced Patent Search | Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA lead retention assembly for an implantable medical device includes (i) a conductive set screw and (ii) a housing defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of the set screw. The assembly further includes a block disposed within the housing. The block defines a lead receiving bore and a second...http://www.google.com/patents/US7860568?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7860568 - Lead retention assembly for implantable medical devicePublication numberUS7860568 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/107,828Publication dateDec 28, 2010Filing dateApr 23, 2008Priority dateApr 23, 2008Also published asEP2280762A1, EP2280762B1, US20090270940, WO2009131720A1Publication number107828, 12107828, US 7860568 B2, US 7860568B2, US-B2-7860568, US7860568 B2, US7860568B2InventorsSteve T. Deininger, Jeffrey J. Clayton, Charles Edward PetersOriginal AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Non-Patent Citations (2), Classifications (4), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLead retention assembly for implantable medical deviceUS 7860568 B2Abstract A lead retention assembly for an implantable medical device includes (i) a conductive set screw and (ii) a housing defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of the set screw. The assembly further includes a block disposed within the housing. The block defines a lead receiving bore and a second bore extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting with the lead receiving bore. The assembly further includes a conductive lead engagement member having a lead engagement feature. The lead engagement feature is disposed within and movable within the second bore such that advancement of the set screw causes the lead engagement feature to move within the second bore towards the lead receiving bore. The set screw is electrically isolated from the conductive lead engagement member.
FIELD This application relates to medical devices, more particularly to implantable medical devices operably couplable to leads or lead extensions and to lead retention assemblies for operably coupling the leads to the devices.
BACKGROUND Implantable electrical signal generators, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, and the like, have been used to treat a variety of diseases. Such devices generate electrical signals that are transferred to a patient's tissue through electrodes disposed on a distal end portion of a lead. The proximal end portion of a lead typically contains a number of connector rings corresponding to the number of electrodes. Conductors run within and along the lead body and electrically couple the connectors to the electrodes. The proximal end portion of the lead is inserted into lead receptacle of a signal generator such that electrical contact is made between discrete contacts in the connector portion and the connector rings of the lead. The lead is then typically secured within the lead receptacle of the signal generator via a set screw, which provides a compressive force on the lead, typically at one of the connector rings. In such cases, the set screw and associated lead retention assembly serve to not only retain the lead within the receptacle but also provide an electrical connection with the signal generating electronics of the device.
When the set screw and associated lead retention assembly are used for purposes of electrical coupling of a lead to signal generating electronics of the device, care is taken to prevent inadvertent stimulation of tissue in the vicinity of the set screw. Such �pocket stimulation� is typically prevented by electrically isolating the set screw from tissue of the patient in which the device is implanted. Electrical isolation is often achieved by placing a silicone grommet between the set screw and the outer surface of the device. The grommet includes a slit to allow a screw driver access to the set screw. However, if the grommet tears or rips during the process of tightening the screw, the electrical insulating properties of the grommet are compromised.
BRIEF SUMMARY Lead retention assemblies having conductive set screws, such as metallic set screws, that are electrically isolated or insulated from electronics of an active implantable medical device are described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exploded view of a representative implantable active electrical device and associated lead and extension.
As used herein, �active implantable electrical device� or the like refers to a device that is capable of generating, sending or receiving an electrical signal via a medical lead.
In some embodiments (not shown), the lead receptacle 42 extends within hermetically sealed housing 11. In such embodiments, device 10 may not include a header 40 and feedthroughs 18. Any suitable hermetically sealed receptacle may be employed in such embodiments, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/733,247, filed on Apr. 10, 2007, entitled �Hermetic Lead Connector Assembly�, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent that it does not conflict with the disclosure presented herein.
Referring now to FIG. 7B, an embodiment of a two-part lead engagement member 230 is shown. In the depicted embodiment, a first part 232 of the lead engagement member 230 is partially disposed within the second bore that is generally perpendicular to the lead receiving bore 220 of block 200 and includes a rim or flange to prevent the first part 232 from falling in the second bore. The second part 234 of the lead engagement member 230 is disposed within a cavity formed within the first part 232. The second part 234 includes the lead engagement feature 240 and is moveable within the cavity formed within the first part 232, and thus moveable within the second bore of the block 200, such that the lead engagement feature 240 is capable of engaging a lead within the bore 220 when a set screw (not shown) is tightened. The second part 234 may include a feature 236, depicted as a protrusion in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, that complementary to a non-conductive member (not shown�see, e.g., FIG. 8). A biasing member 236, such as a wave washer (depicted), spring, or the like, may be employed to bias the second part 234 away from lead receiving bore 220 to allow a lead to be inserted into bore 220. Once the lead is inserted in bore 220 the lead engagement feature 240 of second part 234 may be advanced in the second bore towards the lead receiving bore 220 to engage the lead, by advancing a set screw (not shown). Such multipart construction of lead engagement member 230 may be desirable where lead engagement member 230 is conductive and is electrically coupled device electronics. In such embodiments, first part 232 is preferably electrically coupled to the electronics.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3760332Mar 9, 1972Sep 18, 1973American Optical CorpPacer connectorUS4072154May 28, 1976Feb 7, 1978Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Sealing arrangement for heart pacer electrode leadsUS4141752Jul 21, 1977Feb 27, 1979Coratomic, Inc.Organ-stimulating apparatus and insulating set screw for such apparatusUS4262673Oct 11, 1979Apr 21, 1981Mieczyslaw MirowskiFluid tight coupling for electrode leadUS4461194Apr 28, 1982Jul 24, 1984Cardio-Pace Medical, Inc.Tool for sealing and attaching a lead to a body implantable deviceUS4934366Sep 19, 1989Jun 19, 1990Siemens-Pacesetter, Inc.Feedthrough connector for implantable medical deviceUS5906634Aug 8, 1997May 25, 1999Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Implantable device having a quick connect mechanism for leadsUS6029089Jul 10, 1998Feb 22, 2000Pacesetter, Inc.Lead retention and sealing systemUS6505073Mar 20, 2001Jan 7, 2003Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Implantable medical device with full metallic caseUS7110819Mar 5, 2002Sep 19, 2006Pacesetter, Inc.Implantable medical device having a protected connection headerUS7174211Oct 18, 2002Feb 6, 2007Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Header for implantable medical for use with both unipolar and bipolar leadsUS20060247716Apr 29, 2005Nov 2, 2006Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Radially sealing set screwUS20070100386Oct 31, 2005May 3, 2007Medtronic, Inc.Axial lead connector for implantable medical deviceUS20070265674Apr 27, 2006Nov 15, 2007Olson John CFault tolerant implantable sensors having redundant electrical grounding connectionsEP0006281A1Apr 5, 1979Jan 9, 1980Medtronic, Inc.Body implantable stimulator and connector thereforNon-Patent CitationsReference1PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 27, 2009.2Tyers, G.F. et al., Analysis of set screw and side-lock connector reliability, Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology: Pce Nov. 1992, vol. 15, No. 11.Classifications U.S. Classification607/37International ClassificationA61N1/375Cooperative ClassificationA61N1/3752European ClassificationA61N1/375ALegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 23, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: MEDTRONIC, INC., MINNESOTAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DEININGER, STEVE T.;CLAYTON, JEFFREY J.;PETERS, CHARLES EDWARD;REEL/FRAME:020844/0118Effective date: 20080422RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google