Medtronic, Inc.

Jacob Silverberg

Michael J Kern

Sean Patrick Skubitz

Stephen L Bolea

Michael Robert Klardie

Bruce A Behymer

Daniel C Oster

Jayesh R Patel

Michael T Hegland

Dale F Seeley

Gregory A Boser

Robert L Olson

Bret R Shoberg

Jeffrey M Novotny

Justin M Claus

Robert R Rowe

Suraj Rama

Wayne M Starkson

A medical lead system includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes. The lead body may include a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrical conductors extending about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrodes is positioned around an outer perimeter of the lead body. An inner surface of each of the plurality of electrodes defines an inner perimeter. Each respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode locking feature extending into the lead body from the inner perimeter.

Medical lead with segmented electrodes

An implantable medical electrical lead includes an electrode assembly in which an electrical junction between a first conductor and an inner surface of a first electrode of the assembly is wedged within a first channel of at least one core member of the assembly, around which the first electrode extends. The at least one core member is formed from an insulating material, and the first channel may be one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels arrayed around a circumference of a central lumen of the assembly, which is defined by the at least one core member. The first conductor extends along a length of the assembly, for example, defined between the first electrode and a second electrode thereof, in a helical path that travels around the central lumen.

Electrode assemblies, methods, and components thereof for implantable medical electrical leads

An assembly for forming a medical lead includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors extending about a longitudinal axis of the lead body, and at least one segmented electrode preform that includes an electrically conductive ring and an insulator portion within the electrically conductive ring. The electrically conductive ring includes a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of raised portions that alternate continuously around the ring. Each of the plurality of electrode portions is continuous at a radius from a center of the electrically conductive ring that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the medical lead. The insulator portion has a plurality of projections each extending into a respective raised portion of the ring beyond a radius that corresponds to the outer perimeter of the medical lead. Each respective electrode portion is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors.

Tools and methods for removing anchors from medical leads involve a guide portion and a blade. The lead is inserted within a lead passageway of the guide portion of the tool and the tool is moved along so that the blade contacts the anchor and cuts a slit in the anchor as the tool. Once the blade has cut the slit through the entire anchor, the anchor comes free of the lead and the tool can be removed. The tool may include a manner of opening and closing the guide portion so as to provide access to the lead when open and to contain the lead when closed. Opening the guide portion allows the lead to be inserted or removed by laterally moving the lead into or out of the lead passageway such that the tool may be installed or removed at any available point along the lead.

Tools and methods for removing anchors from medical leads

An anchor deployment assembly includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening. The lumen is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The assembly further includes an anchor engagement element having a body defining a channel configured to slidably receive the elongate member of the anchor receiving element. The assembly further includes an alignment element securable relative to the elongate member of the anchor receiving element and configured to secure the elongate member relative to the body of the anchor engagement element to restrict movement of the elongate member orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the channel of the body.

Anchor deployment apparatus

An anchor deployment apparatus for deploying an anchor about a therapy delivery element includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member having a lumen. The lumen is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The anchor deployment tool further includes an anchor engagement element having (i) a body forming a channel in which the elongate member of the anchor receiving element is axially movable, and (ii) an engagement feature forming at least a part of the channel. The engagement feature is configured to engage the anchor when the anchor is disposed about the elongate member and the elongate member is moved relative to the engagement element, and to cause the anchor to move distally along the elongate member when the feature is engaged with the anchor and the elongate member is moved relative to the engagement element.

An anchor deployment apparatus for deploying an anchor about a therapy delivery element includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member having a distal opening and a lumen extending proximally in the elongate member from the distal opening. The lumen of the elongate member is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The anchor deployment tool further includes an anchor engagement element having (i) a body forming a channel in which the elongate member of the anchor receiving element is axially movable, and (ii) an engagement feature forming at least a part of the channel. The engagement feature is configured to engage the anchor when the anchor is disposed about the elongate member and the elongate member is moved distally relative to the engagement element, and to cause the anchor to move distally along the elongate member when the feature is engaged with the anchor and the elongate member is moved distally relative to the engagement element. The anchor deployment tool also includes an alignment element secured relative to the elongate member and configured to secure the elongate member relative to the body of the anchor engagement element to restrict movement of the elongate member orthogonal to the axis of the channel. The anchor receiving element and the alignment element may be formed from the same or different parts.

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Blaine, MN, United States of America

Jacob Silverberg