Lead stabilization devices and methods

Abstract

Devices and methods for stabilizing a lead in a cardiac vein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 510,663, filed Oct. 10, 2003, entitled LEAD STABILIZATION DEVICES AND METHODS to Atkinson et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to medical devices and methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to medical devices and methods for stabilizing leads in cardiac vasculature. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Heart failure is an increasingly common condition worldwide. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has shown great promise as a treatment for a large percentage of patients in various stages of heart failure. CRT involves cardiac pacing of both the left and right ventricles of the heart (biventricular pacing), which causes both ventricles to beat simultaneously, greatly improving the pumping efficiency of the heart. Typically, the lea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Therefore, a need exists to enable effective lead stabilization without compromising lead delivery, resistance to lead fatigue, or lead removal. To address this need, various exemplary non-limiting embodiments are described herein which provide devices and methods for acute and / or chronic lead stabilization. By way of example, not limitation, the lead stabilization mechanisms described herein may be separate from but cooperative with the lead, thus allowing independent delivery and function. To this end, the lead may be designed for effective delivery and fatigue resistance, and the stabilization mechanism may be designed for effective acute and / or chronic anchoring to prevent lead dislodgement. In addition, the stabilization mechanisms described herein may be separable from the lead to permit subsequent lead removal.

Problems solved by technology

There are numerous challenges in successfully positioning the left ventricular lead, including accessing the coronary sinus and veins, advancing the leads to a position which yields proper stimulation, and preventing subsequent lead dislodgement during removal of delivery devices.

Post procedural challenges related to the left ventricular lead include lead dislodgement prior to fibrosis, loss of stimulation capture, and lead removal necessitated by infection.

Currently available left ventricular leads have generally been designed to facilitate effective delivery and provide fatigue resistance, and are particularly susceptible to dislodgement both intra-procedurally and post-procedurally.

Efforts to incorporate more aggressive anchoring into the lead body have generally been insufficient for preventing dislodgment, and / or have compromised effective delivery, fatigue resistance and subsequent lead removal.

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