Implantable Electrical Stimulation Leads

1 . An in-line implantable electrical lead for use in the stimulation of biological tissues, said lead comprising:

an insulated, flexible, elongate lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a connector attached to and in electrical communication with said proximal end of said lead body;

a plurality of electrodes comprising at least a most proximal electrode and a most distal electrode, said electrodes being arranged in-line and spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another, wherein said most proximal electrode is attached to said distal end of said lead body;

at least one conductor positioned between and extending through each of said plurality of electrodes, thereby connecting each of said plurality of electrodes; and,

a suture extending distally from said most distal electrode;

wherein a first length extending from a tip of a proximal end of said connector to a tip of a distal end of said most proximal electrode is in a range of 450 to 550 mm and a second length of said conductor is in a range of 1 to 50 mm.

2 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of electrodes is equal to two.

3 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of electrodes is equal to four.

4 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of electrodes is equal to eight.

5 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of electrodes has a length in a range of 1 to 25 mm and a width in a range of 0.10 to 1.50 mm.

6 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said lead body is comprised of a plurality of coils or cables.

7 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein a width of said lead body is in a range of 0.20 to 2.00 mm.

8 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said conductor is comprised of a plurality of conductors.

9 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , wherein said lead comprises more than two electrodes and two or more conductors.

10 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 9 , wherein each conductor has the same or different lengths or some conductors have the same length while other conductors have different lengths.

11 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , further comprising a suture loop and a suture tail formed from said suture extending distally from said second electrode.

12 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 11 , wherein a diameter of said suture loop about its widest point is in a range of 1 to 20 mm.

13 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 11 , wherein a third length extending from a distal end of said second electrode to a knot forming said loop is in a range of 1 to 20 mm and a fourth length of said suture tail is in a range of 100 to 500 mm.

14 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 11 , wherein said diameter of said suture loop is fixed.

15 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 11 , wherein said diameter of said suture loop is adjustable by pulling on a portion of said suture, suture loop, or suture tail.

16 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , further comprising a needle attached to a distal end of said suture.

17 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 16 , wherein said needle is within a range of a ¼ to ⅜ of a circle curve needle with a length ranging from 13 to 28 mm and includes a base having a diameter in a range of 0.58 mm to 0.88 mm.

18 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 16 , wherein said needle comprises a straight proximal portion having a first length within a range of 8 mm to 16 mm, a curved distal portion having a second length within a range of 4 mm to 10 mm, and an opening at a proximal end of said straight proximal portion configured to fixedly receive a length of suture and extending at least 1.6 mm within said straight proximal portion, further wherein a tapered point at a distal end of said curved distal portion is offset from an axis of said straight proximal portion by a distance within a range of 1 mm to 5 mm.

19 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve covering a proximal portion of said lead body and a distal portion of said connector.

20 . The implantable electrical lead of claim 19 , further comprising a retention ring positioned proximal to said sleeve and securing said sleeve in place.

21 . An in-line implantable electrical lead for use in the stimulation of biological tissues, said lead comprising:

an insulated, flexible, elongate lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a connector attached to and in electrical communication with said proximal end of said lead body;

a first electrode attached to said distal end of said lead body;

a second electrode attached to said first electrode by a connecting conducting cable, said second electrode being in-line with and spaced distally apart from said first electrode; and,

a suture extending distally from said second electrode;

wherein a first length extending from a proximal end of said connector to a distal end of said first electrode is in a range of 450 to 550 mm and a second length of said connecting conducting cable is in a range of 1 to 50 mm.

22 . A method of endoscopically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a connector, a lead body, a first electrode, a second electrode in-line with said first electrode, and a suture extending distally from said second electrode, said method comprising the steps of:

stitching said suture at least once through the muscularis of a lower esophageal sphincter (LES);

tying a distal end of said suture to a proximal end of said suture;

pulling on a distal end of said suture to pull said lead body into an esophagus;

pushing said lead body into a stomach using graspers;

pulling on said distal end of said suture to thread electrodes into stitch path;

suturing at least one additional suture and T-tag through a suture loop created with said suture of said lead;

removing excess suture from said lead;

creating a gastric port using a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) procedure; and,

delivering said lead through said gastric port.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said lead further includes a loop formed from said suture and said steps of pulling on said distal end of said suture comprise pulling on said loop.

24 . A method of implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a connector and a plurality of in-line electrodes into a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting the distal end of an endoscope into a natural orifice of a patient;

creating a tunnel under a gastric mucosa, wherein said tunnel begins 5 cm to 10 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ);

continuing said tunnel 5 cm to 10 cm distal to the GEJ on an anterior gastric wall;

creating a gastropexy to bring the anterior gastric wall to an abdominal wall;

introducing a needle through the skin into the mucosal tunnel while under surveillance using the endoscope and/or ultrasound to guide the needle to the correct location;

introducing a peel-away introducer over the needle into the mucosal tunnel under guidance from the endoscope;

removing said needle;

inserting the electrical stimulation lead into the introducer and feeding said lead into the mucosal tunnel under guidance from the endoscope;

grasping a suture portion of the electrical stimulation lead using endoscopic graspers;

pulling the electrical stimulation lead such that the electrodes are positioned in or proximate a lower esophageal sphincter (LES);

removing said introducer;

closing an opening of the mucosal tunnel proximal to the LES;

connecting the electrical stimulation lead connector to an implantable pulse generator;

placing said implantable pulse generator in a subcutaneous pocket; and

programming said implantable pulse generator to deliver therapy.

25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of anchoring said electrical stimulation lead to a muscularis of the LES.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein said anchoring is achieved by any one or combination of a conventional suturing mechanism, using sutures which contain micro-barb structure, employing a barb-like element which anchors itself when said lead is pulled, and use of a biomaterial which promotes tissue in-growth, including any one or combination of porous silicone and tissue scaffolds.