Implantable Medical Lead with Moisture-Activated Adhesive Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implanted medical leads often migrate post-implantation, leading to reduced therapeutic efficacy and potential nerve damage due to improper positioning and inflammation.
Innovation Solution
The use of an elongated medical member with adhesive elements along its outer surface, which are activated by moisture or energy to secure the lead to the surrounding tissue, preventing migration and maintaining optimal electrode positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive elements are applied to the lead surface, then lead fixation and prevention of migration are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and activation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive elements are pre-applied to the lead surface during manufacturing but remain inactive until activation. This preliminary preparation allows the adhesive to be ready for immediate fixation upon implantation without adding complexity to the implantation procedure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive elements undergo a parameter change from inactive to active state through exposure to moisture or energy sources. This transformation enables the adhesive to bond the lead to tissue without requiring complex mechanical fixation mechanisms.
2Reliability
If adhesive elements are activated immediately upon implantation, then lead fixation is improved, but risk of premature fixation during implantation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive elements are pre-positioned on the lead surface but remain in an inactive state during implantation. This preliminary placement ensures fixation capability is ready without causing premature bonding, as the adhesive requires specific activation conditions to become functional.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective covering or sheath acts as an intermediary barrier between the adhesive elements and the implantation environment. This intermediary prevents premature activation while allowing controlled activation after implantation when the covering is removed.
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 solution effectively secures the medical lead to the target tissue site, reducing migration and inflammation, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of electrical stimulation therapy.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one adhesive element adheres to adjacent tissue to substantially fix a position of the elongated member
Implementation Method 2
The adhesive elements may be activated by removing a covering sheath to expose the adhesive elements to moisture in the tissue
Implementation Method 3
Alternatively, the adhesive elements may be activated by presenting an energy, e.g. ultraviolet light, to the adhesive elements via one or more conduits within the lead body
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to securing electrodes of a medical lead adjacent to a target tissue site. The medical lead may include at least one adhesive element disposed along a longitudinal outer surface of the lead body to adhere the adjacent tissue to the lead. Adhesive elements may be disposed proximal to, distal to, or in-between the electrodes of the lead. Each adhesive element may be inactive during lead implantation and activated by removing a covering sheath to expose the adhesive elements to moisture in the tissue or presenting an energy, e.g. ultraviolet light, to the adhesive elements. Once active, the adhesive elements secure the lead to surrounding tissue to prevent migration of the electrodes from the target tissue.