Patent ID: 8386052

Claim:
A stimulation lead introducer for facilitating implantation of a paddle lead, the stimulation lead introducer comprising: an elongated dilator defining a dilator lumen sized to advance over a guidewire, the dilator having a distal tip, wherein at least a portion of the distal tip has a substantially oblong cross-section configured to widen a path through an epidural region proximate a spine of a patient by following the guidewire, wherein a distal portion of the distal tip has a substantially circular cross-section, whereas a more proximal portion of the distal tip has the substantially oblong cross-section, wherein the substantially oblong cross-section is sized to widen the path sufficiently to facilitate advancement of the paddle lead along the widened path, and wherein the distal tip comprises a polymer dilator material that is substantially deformable; and an elongated sheath defining a sheath lumen, wherein at least a portion of the sheath lumen provides a substantially oblong cross-section sized to accommodate the dilator, wherein the sheath is configured to facilitate advancement of the paddle lead along a portion of the path when the dilator is not present in the sheath, and wherein the sheath is substantially deformable, wherein the dilator is longer than the sheath such that the dilator can extend beyond a distal end of the sheath lumen, wherein the deformable properties of the dilator decrease the probability of causing a cerebral spinal fluid leak from a puncture in a dura membrane as the dilator widens the path through the epidural region proximate the spine of the patient.