Lead anchor

An implantable lead system comprising:

• at least one lead cable;
• and
• at least one lead anchor slidable along at least a portion of the lead cable;
• wherein the at least one lead anchor comprises:
• a first sleeve;
• a second sleeve;
• a spring secured at one end to the first sleeve and at the other end to the second sleeve;
• and
• a locking mechanism to hold the first sleeve and the second sleeve in at least one locked position;
• wherein rotation of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causes an inner diameter of the spring to change;
• wherein the rotation activates the locking mechanism;
• and
• wherein the locking mechanism defines at least one protrusion on the first sleeve and at least one recess on the second sleeve, wherein the rotation of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causes the at least one protrusion to settle into the at least one recess.

An implantable lead system comprising:

• at least one lead cable;
• and
• at least one lead anchor slidable along at least a portion of the lead cable;
• wherein the at least one lead anchor comprises:
• a first sleeve;
• a second sleeve;
• a spring secured at one end to the first sleeve and at the other end to the second sleeve;
• and
• a locking mechanism to hold the first sleeve and the second sleeve in at least one locked position;
• wherein rotation of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causes an inner diameter of the spring to change;
• wherein the rotation activates the locking mechanism;
• and
• wherein the locking mechanism comprises more than one locked position.

An anchor for anchoring an implantable elongated cylindrical member within a body, the anchor comprising:

• a first sleeve;
• a second sleeve;
• a spring secured at one end to the first sleeve and at the other end to the second sleeve, the spring in a relaxed state having a inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical member;
• and
• a locking mechanism to hold the first sleeve and the second sleeve in at least one locked position;
• wherein rotation of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causes the inner diameter of the spring to increase, the spring thereby releasing the cylindrical member;
• and
• wherein the rotation activates the locking mechanism, thereby locking the first sleeve and second sleeve in position while the anchor is free to move along the cylindrical member.

A method of forming an anchor for an implantable elongated cylindrical member, comprising:

• forming a first sleeve coaxial with and slidable along the cylindrical member;
• forming a second sleeve coaxial with and slidable along the cylindrical member;
• securing one end of a spring to the first sleeve and securing the other end of the spring to the second sleeve;
• and
• providing a locking mechanism to hold the first sleeve and the second sleeve in at least one locked position;
• wherein rotating the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve causes an inner diameter of the spring to change;
• wherein the rotating causes activation of the locking mechanism;
• and
• wherein the spring is configured so the inner diameter of the spring can grip the cylindrical member.