Sutureless implantable medical device fixation
A device comprises a medical implant and an actively deployable clip attached to the medical implant that operates to restrict movement of the medical implant once the actively deployable clip is deployed within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical implant is an electrical lead for electrical stimulation. The actively deployable clip is operable to fixate the medical implant to a body tissue once deployed, such that the actively deployable clip performs a similar function to a suture. In this manner, embodiments of the invention may provide a medical implant that requires few or even no sutures to properly fixate the implant within the patient.
1. A system comprising:
an implantable medical device including a lead carrying one or more electrodes;
a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient; and
a retainer comprising a plurality of strands releasably retaining an enlarged portion of the clip to hold the clip in the first shape,
wherein the clip includes:
a wire formed from one of an elastic material or a shape memory alloy material; and
a coil comprising a plurality of loops surrounding the wire, wherein the coil is held in a compressed state by the retainer to hold the clip in the first shape.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retainer releases the clip for deployment to the second shape in response to manipulation of the retainer.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the retainer releases the clip in response to exertion of a compressive force on the retainer.
4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a needle attached to the clip retainer and thereby releasably attached to the clip.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first shape is a substantially straight shape.
6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second shape is a substantially curved shape.
7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second shape is a spiral shape.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical stimulation generator coupled to the lead.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising tines attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an anchor disk having an aperture, wherein the clip extends through the aperture of the anchor disk.
12. A system comprising:
an implantable medical device including a lead carrying one or more electrodes;
a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient; and
a retainer comprising a plurality of strands releasably retaining an enlarged portion of the clip to hold the clip in the first shape,
wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead,
wherein the clip is a first clip, the system further comprising a second clip attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first clip includes:
a wire formed from one of an elastic material or a shape memory alloy material; and
a coil comprising a plurality of loops surrounding the wire, wherein the coil is held in a compressed state by the retainer to hold the first clip in the first shape.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the retainer releases the clip in response to exertion of a compressive force on the retainer.
15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a needle attached to the retainer and thereby releasably attached to the clip.
16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electrical stimulation generator coupled to the lead.
17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising tines attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.
18. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an anchor disk having an aperture, wherein the clip extends through the aperture of the anchor disk.
19. A method comprising:
implanting an implantable medical device including a lead carrying one or more electrodes in a body of a patient; and
actively deploying a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient,
wherein actively deploying the clip comprises releasing the clip from a retainer comprising a plurality of strands releasably retaining an enlarged portion of the clip,
wherein the clip includes a wire formed from one of an elastic material or a shape memory alloy material,
wherein the implantable medical device comprises a coil comprising a plurality of loops surrounding the wire, wherein the coil is held in a compressed state by the retainer to hold the clip in the first shape.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising applying a compressive force to the retainer to release the clip.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the clip retainer is attached to a needle, the method further comprising releasing the needle with the retainer.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first shape is a substantially straight shape.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second shape is a substantially curved shape.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second shape is a spiral shape.
25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising coupling an electrical stimulation generator to the lead.
26. The method of claim 19 , wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead.
27. The method of claim 19 , further comprising extending a portion of the clip through an aperture of an anchor disk before deploying the clip.
28. A method comprising:
implanting an implantable medical device including a lead carrying one or more electrodes in a body of a patient; and
actively deploying a clip attached to the implantable medical device, wherein the clip is actively deployable from a first shape to a second shape to resist substantial movement of the implantable medical device from a target site within a body of a patient,
wherein actively deploying the clip comprises releasing the clip from a retainer comprising a plurality of strands releasably retaining an enlarged portion of the clip,
wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead,
wherein the clip is a first clip, the method further comprising deploying a second clip attached to a portion of the lead more proximate than the first clip.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein actively deploying the clip comprises applying a compressive force to the retainer to release the clip.
30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the clip retainer is attached to a needle, the method further comprising releasing the needle with the retainer.
31. The method of claim 28 , further comprising coupling an electrical stimulation generator to the lead.
32. The method of claim 28 , wherein the clip is attached to a distal end of the lead.