Percutaneous electrode
OwnerRichard B. Northinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system including an electrode and a stylet configured to steer the electrode towards its intended position during implantation, and a method for such system's use. An electrode is provided having regions with varied flexibility. A stylet having bends that are indexed to specific regions of flexibility of the electrode may be inserted into the electrode, and upon minimal radial and/or longitudinal movement of the stylet within the electrode, will cause the magnitude of the angle to which the lead is bent to either increase or decrease so as to aid the operator in placement of the electrode.
Claims14
A method for positioning a lead within a patient, comprising:
- providing a lead, the lead further comprising a shaft having a plurality of flexible spacer portions and a plurality of electrode contacts disposed thereon, wherein a flexible spacer portion is positioned between each of said electrode contacts, said shaft having a section defining a cylindrical exterior wall, which section includes at least one of said electrode contacts and at least one of said flexible spacer portions, and a stylet lumen extending into said lead from a proximal end thereof towards a distal end thereof,
- providing a stylet having a plurality of bends therein and relatively straight portions extending between said bends, wherein said bends are positioned a distance apart from one another so as to simultaneously align with said flexible spacer portions of said lead when said stylet is positioned within said stylet lumen, wherein a first one of said flexible spacer portions has greater flexibility than a second one of said flexible spacer portions, such that one of said bends in said stylet engaging said first one of said flexible spacer portions will cause said lead to bend at a larger angle than said one of said bends in said stylet engaging said second one of said flexible spacer portions;
- inserting said stylet into said stylet lumen toward said distal end of said lead a sufficient distance so that at least one of said bends in said stylet is aligned with at least one of said electrode contacts;
- moving said lead within a patient in a first direction;
- moving said stylet in said stylet lumen so as to align said one of said bends in said stylet with one of said flexible spacer portions so as to change the angle of at least a portion of said lead;
- and
- further moving said lead within said patient in a second direction different from said first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.