Adjustable medical lead fixation system

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing implanted medical devices and more particularly to an apparatus for securing implanted medical devices such as electrical stimulation leads to various sized cranial burr holes.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in relation to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the following figures have the following general nature:

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the adjustable lead anchoring device of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is another top plan view of the invention of FIG. 1.

#In the accompanying drawings, like reference numbers are used throughout the various figures for identical structures.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred adjustable medical lead anchoring system is depicted. The preferred anchoring system 10 comprises generally an anchoring plate 12, an anchoring arm 14 and a resilient inner sleeve 16. The resilient inner sleeve defines an aperture 18 for receiving medical leads of varying diameters. As used herein, the term "lead" may refer to any elongated medical apparatus having an electrode providing electrical stimulation, or a parenchymal catheter for infusing pharmaceutical agents. The selection of one lead over another will depend on numerous factors such as the therapy being delivered. The selection of the burr hole size will depend on numerous factors including surgical preference. As most preferred, the aperture 18 accommodates lead bodies which fit within burr holes having varying diameters of up to 14 millimeters.

#The anchoring plate 12 is preferably a rigid flat plate anchored to the cranium through the use of mounting screws, not shown. As conventional, three mounting screws are used to stabilize and fix the plate 12 to the cranium. The anchoring plate 12 defines a plurality of mounting holes 22 for receiving the mounting screws. The plate 12 also defines a semi-circular opening 24 sized and shaped to receive the inner sleeve 16. That is, the opening 24 has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve 16 in its unsprung state. As depicted in plan view, the plate 12 has a preferable semi-circular shaped body with three anchoring legs 28 radially protruding outward from the semi-circular body. Located within each of the three anchoring legs are the mounting holes 22. As one can imagine, other similar means for anchoring the plate to the cranium may be used and are considered within the scope of the present invention.