IP Library › Granted Patent US 12667719
Granted Patent B2
US 12667719 · App. 18/593,703 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Foramina-filling implantable medical lead

Inventors: Sarah J. Offutt (Golden Valley, MN); Juan G. Hincapie (Maple Grove, MN); Jerel K. Mueller (St. Paul, MN); Robert T. Sandgren (Lindstrom, MN); Katie Bittner (White Bear Lake, MN)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
A61N1/0558A61N1/36062A61N1/37211A61N1/37518
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667719
App. No.
18/593,703
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples of implantable medical leads or implantable medical systems with implantable medical leads to be anchored to a sacrum are disclosed. The implantable medical leads include a lead body having a distal portion. A fixation mechanism is coupled to the distal portion. An electrode array is mechanically coupled to the fixation mechanism. In one example, the electrode array is directly coupled to the fixation mechanism. The electrode array is electrically coupled to the lead body and configured to generate a stimulation field. The fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to a sacrum and effect the stimulation field in a foramen of the sacrum.

Claims (50)

1 . An implantable medical system comprising:

an implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead body having a distal portion;

a fixation mechanism coupled to the distal portion, the fixation mechanism including an end portion and a body portion; and

an electrode array disposed on the fixation mechanism, wherein the electrode array is electrically coupled to the lead body and configured to generate a stimulation field;

wherein, in a deployed configuration, the fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to a sacrum or tissue surrounding the sacrum to position the electrode array to deliver the stimulation field in or adjacent to a foramen of the sacrum,

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the body portion is configured to contact a first surface within the foramen of the sacrum, and

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the end portion defines a diameter larger than the body portion and is configured to engage a second surface of the sacrum different than the first surface such that in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the end portion is configured to engage the second surface while the body portion contacts the first surface.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the fixation mechanism includes an expandable portion.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the fixation mechanism is a first end portion, and wherein the fixation mechanism includes a second end portion opposite the first end portion and defines a second diameter larger than the body portion.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the fixation mechanism includes a stent.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the fixation mechanism is configured to radially urge against the first surface within the foramen of the sacrum.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion defines a tapered shape.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to the sacrum within the foramen.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to dispose the electrode array within the foramen.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein when the fixation mechanism is positioned in the foramen, a length of the fixation mechanism extends through the foramen from at least from the second surface to a third surface of the foramen opposite the second surface.

10 . The system of claim 1 , where the fixation mechanism includes a plurality of struts.

11 . An implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead body having a distal portion;

a fixation mechanism mechanically coupled to the distal portion, the fixation mechanism including an end portion and a body portion; and

an electrode array mechanically coupled to the body portion of the fixation mechanism and electrically coupled to the lead body, the electrode array being configured to generate a stimulation field;

wherein, in a deployed configuration, the fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to a sacrum or tissue surrounding the sacrum to position the electrode array to deliver the stimulation field in or adjacent to a foramen of the sacrum,

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the body portion is configured to contact a first surface within the foramen of the sacrum, and

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the end portion defines a diameter larger than the body portion and is configured to engage a second surface of the sacrum different than the first surface such that in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the end portion is configured to engage the second surface while the body portion contacts the first surface.

12 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the body portion of the fixation mechanism includes an expandable portion.

13 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the body portion of the fixation mechanism includes a stent.

14 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein body portion of the fixation mechanism is configured to radially urge against the first surface within the foramen of the sacrum.

15 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the body portion defines a tapered shape.

16 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the end portion of the fixation mechanism is a first end portion, and wherein the fixation mechanism includes a second end portion opposite the first end portion and defines a second diameter larger than the body portion.

17 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to the sacrum within the foramen.

18 . The implantable medical lead of claim 11 , wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to dispose the electrode array within the foramen.

19 . An implantable medical system comprising:

an implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead body having a distal portion;

a stent coupled to the distal portion, the stent including an end portion and a body portion; and

an electrode array disposed on the stent, wherein the electrode array is electrically coupled to the lead body and configured to generate a stimulation field;

wherein the stent is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to a sacrum or tissue surrounding the sacrum in order to position the electrode array to deliver the stimulation field in or adjacent to a foramen of the sacrum,

wherein the body portion is configured to urge against a first surface within the foramen of the sacrum, and

wherein the end portion defines a diameter larger than the body portion and is configured to engage a second surface of the sacrum different than the first surface.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein to urge against the first surface within the foramen of the sacrum, the body portion of the stent is configured to radially urge against the first surface within the foramen of the sacrum.

21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the end portion of the stent is a first end portion, and wherein the stent includes a second end portion opposite the first end portion and defines a second diameter larger than the body portion.

22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the stent is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to the sacrum within the foramen.

23 . An implantable medical system comprising:

an implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead body having a distal portion;

a fixation mechanism coupled to the distal portion, the fixation mechanism including an end portion and a body portion, the body portion and the end portion being formed from a plurality of intersecting struts; and

an electrode array disposed on the fixation mechanism, wherein the electrode array is electrically coupled to the lead body and configured to generate a stimulation field;

wherein, in a deployed configuration, the fixation mechanism is configured to anchor the implantable medical lead to a sacrum or tissue surrounding the sacrum to position the electrode array to deliver the stimulation field in or adjacent to a foramen of the sacrum,

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the body portion is configured to extend along and contact a first surface within the foramen of the sacrum, and

wherein, in the deployed configuration of the fixation mechanism, the end portion defines a diameter larger than the body portion and is configured to engage a second surface of the sacrum different than the first surface, the end portion configured to engage the second surface while the body portion engages the first surface.