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US5514174A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Positive fixation device

Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-03
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Granted: 1996-05-07
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Expires: 2015-02-03
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Abstract

Abstract An implantable defibrillation electrode including a conductive distal end portion and a non-conductive proximal end portion is provided with at least a major portion of the length of the distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition. The distal end portion includes distal and proximal ends and at least one of those ends is hollow and has hook structure shiftably supported therein for movement longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within the hollow end and an extended position at least substantially fully outwardly projected from the hollow end. Spring structure is provided for yieldingly biasing the hook structure from the extended position toward the retracted position and axial thrust developing structure is slidingly telescoped through the proximal end portion and operatively associated with the hook structure for exerting an axial thrust thereon from the terminal end of the proximal end portion in order to effect shifting of the hook structure from the retracted position to the extended position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald W. Heil, Jr.
  • 👤 Robert W. Wickham, Jr.
  • 👤 Bruce H. Kenknight

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 15:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/057; A61N1/0573

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 196 words
An implantable defibrillation electrode comprising: an electro-catheter including a conductive distal end portion and a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion, at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, the proximal end portion having a terminal end, a housing, provided on said distal end portion, including distal and proximal ends and at least one radial opening defined between said distal and proximal ends, at least one of said ends being a closed end, hook means, shiftably supported in said housing and extendable through said at least one radial opening, for engaging body tissue and moving longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within said housing and an extended position at least substantially fully outside of said housing, means for yieldingly biasing said hook means from one of said extended position and said retracted position toward the other of said extended position and said retracted position, and axial thrust developing means, slidingly telescoped through said proximal end portion and operatively associated with said hook means, for exerting an axial thrust thereon from said terminal end of said proximal end portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 196 words
An implantable defibrillation electrode comprising: an electro-catheter including a conductive distal end portion and a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion, at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, the proximal end portion having a terminal end, a housing, provided on said distal end portion, including distal and proximal ends and at least one radial opening defined between said distal and proximal ends, at least one of said ends being a closed end, hook means, shiftably supported in said housing and extendable through said at least one radial opening, for engaging body tissue and moving longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within said housing and an extended position at least substantially fully outside of said housing, means for yieldingly biasing said hook means from one of said extended position and said retracted position toward the other of said extended position and said retracted position, and axial thrust developing means, slidingly telescoped through said proximal end portion and operatively associated with said hook means, for exerting an axial thrust thereon from said terminal end of said proximal end portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said ends is the distal end of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein said housing is hollow and said hook means is at least substantially enclosed within said housing when in the retracted position and said radial opening extends lengthwise along said housing and opens laterally outwardly therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 79 words
An electrode as defined by claim 1, wherein said hook means includes a sharp point received within a recess provided in said housing when in said extended position so that said recess serves to house said sharp point and prevent further tissue penetration thereby after said sharp point has penetrated adjacent tissue during movement of said hook means from one of said extended position and said retracted position toward the other of said extended position and said retracted position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 169 words
An implantable defibrillation electrode comprising: an electro-catheter including a conductive distal end portion and a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion, the proximal end portion having a terminal end, a housing, provided on said distal end portion, including distal and proximal ends and at least one radial opening defined between said distal and proximal ends, at least one of said ends being a closed end, hook means, shiftably supported in said housing and extendable through said at least one radial opening, for movement longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within said housing and an extended position at least substantially fully outside of said housing, means for yieldingly biasing said hook means from one of said extended position and said retracted position toward the other of said extended position and said retracted position, and axial thrust developing means, slidingly telescoped through said proximal end portion and operatively associated with said hook means, for exerting an axial thrust thereon from said terminal end of said proximal end portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 169 words
An implantable defibrillation electrode comprising: an electro-catheter including a conductive distal end portion and a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion, the proximal end portion having a terminal end, a housing, provided on said distal end portion, including distal and proximal ends and at least one radial opening defined between said distal and proximal ends, at least one of said ends being a closed end, hook means, shiftably supported in said housing and extendable through said at least one radial opening, for movement longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within said housing and an extended position at least substantially fully outside of said housing, means for yieldingly biasing said hook means from one of said extended position and said retracted position toward the other of said extended position and said retracted position, and axial thrust developing means, slidingly telescoped through said proximal end portion and operatively associated with said hook means, for exerting an axial thrust thereon from said terminal end of said proximal end portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The electrode of claim 5 wherein at least a major portion of the said distal end portion has a pre-configured shape and is resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The electrode of claim 6 wherein said pre-configured shape comprises a spiral shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
The electrode of claim 7 wherein said pre-configured shape comprises a generally flat spiral shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
The electrode of claim 6 wherein said pre-configured shape comprises a generally flat zig-zag shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 88 words
The electrode of claim 5, wherein said hook means includes an elongated rod longitudinally reciprocal within said housing and a hook member pivotally supported from an end of said elongated rod, said at least one radial opening being a longitudinal radial slot through which said hook member projects, portions of said housing defining opposite ends of said slot constituting cam surfaces operative to cam said hook member between said extended position and said retracted position upon movement of said elongated rod toward and away from said proximal end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The electrode of claim 10 wherein said hook member includes a single hook member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The electrode of claim 10 wherein said hook member comprises a pair of laterally spaced hook members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The electrode of claim 10 wherein said hook member opens toward said distal end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The electrode of claim 10 wherein said hook member opens toward said proximal end.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of implanting an electrode in a body comprising the steps of: providing an electrode including an electro-catheter which includes a conductive distal end portion, a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion with at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, and a hook, extendable through a radial opening in said electrode, which is yieldingly biased toward one of an extended position and a retracted position, introducing said electrode lengthwise into said body by utilizing a stiffening member operatively associated with said distal end portion, maintaining the distal end portion in a generally straightened condition, moving said electrode into position with said distal end portion positioned adjacent a predetermined body tissue area to which said distal end portion is to be attached, releasably anchoring said distal end portion to said predetermined body tissue area by moving said hook towards one of said extended position through the radical opening and said retracted position, and withdrawing said stiffening member in order to deploy said distal end portion into its pre-configured shape.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of implanting an electrode in a body comprising the steps of: providing an electrode including an electro-catheter which includes a conductive distal end portion, a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion with at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, and a hook, extendable through a radial opening in said electrode, which is yieldingly biased toward one of an extended position and a retracted position, introducing said electrode lengthwise into said body by utilizing a stiffening member operatively associated with said distal end portion, maintaining the distal end portion in a generally straightened condition, moving said electrode into position with said distal end portion positioned adjacent a predetermined body tissue area to which said distal end portion is to be attached, releasably anchoring said distal end portion to said predetermined body tissue area by moving said hook towards one of said extended position through the radical opening and said retracted position, and withdrawing said stiffening member in order to deploy said distal end portion into its pre-configured shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined body tissue area comprises a pericardial tissue area.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of implanting an electrode in a body comprising the steps of: providing an electrode including an electro-catheter which includes a conductive distal end portion, a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion with at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, and a hook, extendable through an opening in said electrode, which is yieldingly biased toward one of an extended position and a retracted position, introducing said electrode Lengthwise into said body by utilizing a stiffening member operatively associated with said distal end portion, maintaining the distal end portion in a substantially straightened condition, moving said electrode into position with said distal end portion positioned adjacent a predetermined body tissue area to which said distal end portion is to be attached, at least partially removing said stiffening member in order to enable deployment of said distal end portion into its pre-configured shape, and releasably anchoring said distal end portion to said predetermined body tissue area by moving said hook towards one of said extended position and said retracted position.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of implanting an electrode in a body comprising the steps of: providing an electrode including an electro-catheter which includes a conductive distal end portion, a hollow, non-conductive, proximal end portion with at least a major portion of said distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition, and a hook, extendable through an opening in said electrode, which is yieldingly biased toward one of an extended position and a retracted position, introducing said electrode Lengthwise into said body by utilizing a stiffening member operatively associated with said distal end portion, maintaining the distal end portion in a substantially straightened condition, moving said electrode into position with said distal end portion positioned adjacent a predetermined body tissue area to which said distal end portion is to be attached, at least partially removing said stiffening member in order to enable deployment of said distal end portion into its pre-configured shape, and releasably anchoring said distal end portion to said predetermined body tissue area by moving said hook towards one of said extended position and said retracted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said predetermined body tissue area comprises a pericardial tissue area.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-05-07 1999-11-06 2000-05-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-05-07 2003-11-06 2004-05-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-05-07 2007-11-06 2008-05-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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