Lead Anchor With Flexible Pin Lumen For Secure Lead Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable electrical stimulation systems face challenges in securely anchoring multiple leads to patient tissue without causing physical damage, as current designs struggle to concurrently retain multiple lead portions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lead anchor design featuring an anchor body with flexible walls and a pin lumen that exerts radially-outward-directed forces when an anchoring pin is inserted, causing corresponding radially-inward-directed forces within the lead lumens to securely retain multiple lead portions, preventing migration and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional anchoring methods are used to secure leads to patient tissue, then lead stability is improved, but physical damage to leads and tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor body is constructed with flexible walls that can deform elastically when the anchoring pin is inserted. These flexible walls allow the anchor to exert radially-outward-directed forces against the pin while simultaneously applying radially-inward-directed forces to retain lead portions within lead lumens, securing leads without causing physical damage
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor body's flexible walls change their mechanical state dynamically: they deform outwardly when the anchoring pin is inserted, then maintain a controlled radially-inward force to retain leads. This parameter change allows the anchor to transition from a passive structure to an active retaining mechanism that secures leads without damage
2Reliability
If existing anchor designs are used to retain multiple lead portions, then anchoring capability is improved, but lead migration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor body contains multiple spaced-apart lead lumens that can independently receive and retain different lead portions. Each lead lumen acts as a separate retention channel, allowing multiple leads to be anchored simultaneously while maintaining individual lead position stability and preventing migration
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor body serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, retains multiple lead portions through spaced-apart lead lumens, and exerts controlled forces through flexible walls. This multi-functional design enables concurrent retention of multiple leads with stable positioning and migration prevention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lead anchor effectively retains multiple lead portions without causing physical damage, ensuring stable anchoring and preventing lead migration, thereby maintaining the integrity and functionality of the electrical stimulation system.
Implementation Method 1
The pin lumen has flexible walls suitable for exerting a radially-outward-directed force away from the anchoring pin along at least one axis transverse to the longitudinal length of the anchor body when the anchoring pin is received by the pin lumen. The radially-outward-directed force exerted by the walls of the pin lumen causes corresponding radially-inward-directed forces along the flexible walls of the lead lumens
Data Source
AI summary
A lead anchor includes an anchor body having a pin lumen and spaced-apart lead lumens extending along an entire length of the anchor body. The pin lumen receives an anchoring pin with a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the pin lumen. The pin lumen has flexible walls that exert a radially-outward-directed force away from the anchoring pin when the anchoring pin is received by the pin lumen. The lead lumens each have flexible walls and receive a different lead body of at least one lead. The radially-outward-directed force exerted by the walls of the pin lumen when the anchoring pin is received by the pin lumen causes corresponding radially-inward-directed forces along the flexible walls of the lead lumens that retain portions of the lead bodies within the anchor body when the portions of the lead bodies are received by the lead lumens.