Lead fixation accessory, lead stabilization tool, and related procedures

A lead stabilization tool for holding a lead in place near a hole in a skull, while the lead is positioned in a cannula passing through the hole, the cannula having a slotted wall having a width, the lead stabilization tool comprising:

• a housing having a proximal end, a nose at a distal end, and a lumen extending at least partially through the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing, the lumen defining an opening through the nose of the housing;
• an extension member at least partially located in the housing and configured for displacement along the longitudinal axis;
• a grip structure configured to fit through the slotted wall of the cannula;
• and
• an operating mechanism coupled to the housing and at least one of the extension member and the grip structure, and configured to transition the lead stabilization tool between:
• 1) an extended state during which the grip structure is located distal the nose and can be positioned through the slotted wall and manipulated to at least partially encircle the lead, and 2) an at least partially retracted state during which the grip structure is located relative to the nose so as to apply a force to the lead to thereby hold the lead in place.