Long, flexible sheath and lead blank and systems and methods of making and using
AssigneeBoston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
InventorJacob B. Leven
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for implanting a lead includes inserting a needle into the patient; inserting a lead blank through the needle; steering the lead blank to, or near, a lead implantation site; removing the needle from the patient and leaving the lead blank; advancing a flexible sheath over the lead blank after removing the needle; removing the lead blank from the patient and leaving the flexible sheath; inserting a lead through the flexible sheath, after removing the lead blank, and implanting the lead at the lead implantation site; and removing the flexible sheath. The flexible sheath can also be used for explanting a lead and, optionally, implanting a new lead.
Claims20
A sheath for implanting a lead, comprising:
- a flexible body having a proximal end and a distal end and having a length of at least 30 centimeters, the flexible body defining a lumen extending from the flexible end to the distal end, and
- a rigid hub coupled to the proximal end of the flexible body and defining an opening to the lumen of the flexible body.
A method for implanting a lead, the method comprising:
- inserting a needle into the patient;
- inserting a lead blank through the needle;
- steering the lead blank to, or near, a lead implantation site;
- removing the needle from the patient and leaving the lead blank;
- advancing a flexible sheath over the lead blank after removing the needle;
- removing the lead blank from the patient and leaving the flexible sheath;
- inserting a lead through the flexible sheath, after removing the lead blank, and implanting the lead at the lead implantation site;
- and
- removing the flexible sheath.
A method for replacing a lead, the method comprising:
- advancing a flexible sheath over a first lead implanted in a patient;
- removing the first lead from the patient and leaving the flexible sheath;
- inserting a second lead through the flexible sheath, after removing the first lead, and implanting the second lead at a lead implantation site;
- and
- removing the flexible sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.