# US 2014/0155973 A1 · Tissue-captured anchors and methods of use

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- Number: US 2014/0155973 A1
- Document ID: US20140155973A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/827,356
- Filed: 2013-03-14
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05
- Assignees: Spinal Modulation, Inc.
- Applicants: Spinal Modulation, Inc.
- Inventors: Eric Grigsby; Albert Burdulis; Fred Linker; Evan Vandenbrink; Jeffrey J. Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155973A1

## CPC

- A61N 1/0558: {Anchoring or fixation means therefor}
- A61M 25/04: in the body, e.g. expansible {(A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence)}
- A61M 2025/024: {having a clip or clamp system}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are provided for anchoring implantable medical devices to maintain an implanted position. In some embodiments, the medical devices are stimulation leads which are implanted near a portion of the neural anatomy for providing stimulation thereto. To maintain position of the lead, the lead is anchored with the use of a tissue-captured anchor which is attached to the lead at a desired point of anchoring. The anchor maintains position of the lead by resisting movement of the anchor between tissue layers at the point of anchoring.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchor for anchoring an elongate device within a body of a patient comprising:
an anchor body suturelessly attachable to the elongate device at an anchoring point and contoured so as to
a) be positionable between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer within the body while the elongate device passes through the first and second tissue layers, and
b) atraumatically resist movement through the tissue layers thereby anchoring the elongate device between the tissues at the anchoring point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the contour has a ball, round, elliptical, oval, oblong or disk shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor has a diameter of less than 0.5 inches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor is sized and contoured to be passable through an incision in a muscle or ligament, wherein the incision has a length of 1 inch or less.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the contour includes at least one protruding portion which extends laterally outward from the elongate device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor body comprises a first portion having first lumen configured for passage of the elongate device therethrough and a second portion having a second lumen configured for passage of the elongate device therethrough, wherein the first and second lumens are alignable for passage of the elongate device therethrough.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An anchor as in claim 6, wherein a misalignment of the first and second lumens attaches the anchor body to the elongate device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An anchor as in claim 7, wherein the first portion comprises a plunger which is advanceable within the second portion so such advancement aligns or misaligns the first and second lumens.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

An anchor as in claim 7, wherein alignment or misalignment is maintained by force of a spring.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

An anchor as in claim 7, wherein the first portion is moveable toward the second portion wherein such movement causes the lumens to misalign.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

An anchor as in claim 6, wherein the first portion has a first mating surface and the second portion has a second mating surface, wherein mating of the first and second surfaces together attaches the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An anchor as in claim 11, wherein the first portion has a protrusion through which the first lumen passes and the second portion has a recession through which the second lumen passes, wherein mating of the protrusion with the recession aligns the first and second lumens and attaches the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

An anchor as in claim 6, wherein the first portion has a first perimeter and the second portion has a second perimeter wherein aligning or misaligning the perimeters attaches the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

An anchor as in claim 6, wherein rotating the first portion in relation to the second portion attaches the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor body comprises a first mating surface and a second mating surface, wherein the first and second mating surfaces are mateable to each other while the elongate device is disposed therebetween.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

An anchor as in claim 15, wherein the anchor body comprises a first portion having the first mating surface and a separate second section having the second mating portion, wherein the first and second portions are joinable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

An anchor as in claim 15, wherein the first mating surface is disposed on a first jaw and the second mating portion is disposed on a second jaw, wherein the jaws are connected on at least one side and open to receive the elongate device therebetween.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

An anchor as in claim 17, wherein the anchor body is configured so that squeezing an outer perimeter of the anchor body toward its center axis flexes and moves the first jaw away from the second jaw so that the surfaces un-mate.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

An anchor as in claim 17, wherein the first and second jaws form a side opening in the anchor body for insertion of the elongate device therebetween.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor body has a lumen configured for passage of the elongate device therethrough and a cam arranged to at least partially obstruct the lumen so as to attach the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

An anchor as in claim 1, wherein the anchor body is removeably attachable to the elongate device.

### Claim 22

A method for anchoring an elongate device within a body of a patient comprising:
positioning an anchor between a first tissue layer and an adjacent second tissue layer within the body; and
suturelessly attaching the anchor to an elongate device at an anchoring point, wherein the elongate device is positioned through the first tissue layer and the second tissue layer within the body and wherein the anchor is contoured to atraumatically resist movement through the tissue layers thereby anchoring the elongate device between the tissues at the anchoring point.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A method as in claim 22, wherein positioning comprises positioning the anchor laterally adaj cent to a spinous process.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A method as in claim 23, wherein first tissue layer comprises a spinous muscle layer.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A method as in claim 24, wherein the second tissue layer comprises a spinous muscle layer.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

A method as in claim 22, wherein the first or second layer comprises fascia, a spinae erector, an illiocostalis lumborum, a longissimus thoriclis, a longissimus cervicus, an illioconstalis cervicis, a serratus anterior, a ligament, a supraspinous ligament, an interspinous ligament, a ligamentum flavum, an alar ligament, an anterior atlantoaxial ligament, a posterior atlantoaxial ligament, a ligamentum nuchae, an anterior longitudinal ligament, a posterior longitudinal ligament, an interspinous ligament, an intertransverse ligament, an iliolumbar ligament, a sacroiliac ligament, a sacrospinous ligament, a sacrotuberous ligament, an anterior occipitoatlantal ligament, a posterior occipitoatlantal ligament, a lateral occipitoatlantal ligament, an occipitoaxial ligament, an apical ligament, an altantoaxial ligament, a lateral ligament, a transverse ligament, a superior longitudinal fascicle, an inferior longitudinal fascicle, an aponeurosis, a tendon, a subcutaneous tissue, skin, a dermal layer, a bone, cartilage, or an artificial tissue.

### Claim 27 (depends on 22)

A method as in claim 22, wherein the anchor body comprises a first portion having a first lumen configured for passage of the elongate device therethrough and a second portion having a second lumen configured for passage of the elongate device therethrough, the method further comprising mounting the anchor on the elongate device by passing the elongate device through the first and second lumens while the lumens are aligned.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

A method as in claim 27, wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises misaligning the lumens

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

A method as in claim 27, wherein the first portion has a first mating surface and the second portion has a second mating surface, wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises mating the first and second surfaces together.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

A method as in claim 27, wherein the first portion has a first perimeter and the second portion has a second perimeter, wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises aligning or misaligning the perimeters.

### Claim 31 (depends on 22)

A method as in claim 22, wherein the anchor body comprises a first mating surface and a second mating surface, wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises mating the first and second mating surfaces to each other while the elongate device is disposed therebetween.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

A method as in claim 31, wherein the first mating surface is disposed on a first jaw and the second mating surface is disposed on a second jaw, wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises opening the jaws to receive the elongate device therebetween.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

A method as in claim 32, wherein opening the jaws comprises squeezing an outer perimeter of the anchor body toward its center axis which causes the first jaw to move away from the second jaw

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

A method as in claim 32, wherein the first and second jaws form a side opening in the anchor body, and wherein suturelessly attaching the anchor to the elongate device comprises inserting the elongate device into the side opening.

### Claim 35 (depends on 22)

A method as in claim 22, further comprising releasing the attachment of the anchor to the elongate device.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

A method as in claim 35, further comprising suturelessly re-attaching the anchor to the elongate device.