Systems and methods for enhanced implantation of electrode leads between tissue layers

1. A method for implanting a device for restoring muscle function to a lumbar spine of a patient, the method comprising:

selecting a guide needle having a longitudinal axis and a distal tip;

selecting a lead having a distal region including one or more electrodes;

locating a first insertion site at a cranial edge of a transverse process of a target vertebrae of the lumbar spine;

inserting the distal tip of the guide needle percutaneously at the first insertion site;

locating a second insertion site along a midline of the target vertebrae; and

implanting the lead with a medial-to-lateral trajectory from the second insertion site toward the distal tip of guide needle such that the distal region is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide needle and the one or more electrodes are disposed near or in contact with tissue associated with control of the lumbar spine,

wherein the medial-to-lateral trajectory traverses naturally occurring fascicle planes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target vertebrae is an L3 vertebra.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first insertion site is located a lateral distance from the midline of the target vertebrae, and proximately lateral to a base of a superior articular process of the target vertebrae.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising visualizing the distal tip of the guide needle within an outline of a neural foramen of the target vertebrae to confirm target positioning of the guide needle.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein visualizing the distal tip of the guide needle comprises visualizing the distal tip of the guide needle via at least one of x-ray, fluoroscopy, acoustic, anatomic, or CT guidance.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein visualizing the distal tip of the guide needle comprises visualizing the distal tip of the guide needle via at least one of lateral, anterior, or posterior images.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second insertion site is located above an L4 spinous process.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring a depth attained by the distal tip of the guide needle at the first insertion site; and

locating the second insertion site along the midline of the target vertebrae based on the depth.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second insertion site is located a distance from the first insertion site approximately equal to the depth.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes are disposed near or in contact with a dorsal ramus nerve or fascicles thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal region of the lead is approximately angled 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide needle.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein implanting the lead at the second insertion site comprises:

selecting a delivery needle having a distal tip, a lumen and a longitudinal axis;

inserting the distal tip of the delivery needle percutaneously at the second insertion site along the medial-to-lateral trajectory from the second insertion site toward the distal tip of guide needle such that the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide needle;

advancing a guidewire through the lumen of the delivery needle;

removing the delivery needle;

advancing an introducer assembly over the guidewire;

removing the guidewire;

advancing the lead through the introducer assembly so that the one or more electrodes are disposed near or in contact with the tissue associated with control of the lumbar spine; and

retracting the introducer assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising visualizing the distal tip of the delivery needle within an outline of a neural foramen of the target vertebrae to confirm target positioning of the delivery needle.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the distal tip of the delivery needle further comprises advancing the distal tip of the delivery needle approximately 3-5 mm beyond the distal tip of the guide needle, thereby penetrating an intertransversarii.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein advancing the introducer assembly over the guidewire comprises advancing the introducer assembly over the guidewire until the introducer assembly is within a plane of an intertransversarii.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lead comprises a pair of oppositely-angled fixation elements disposed in proximity to at least one of the one or more electrodes, the pair of oppositely-angled fixation elements configured to transition from a collapsed delivery state to a deployed state, and wherein retracting the introducer assembly causes the pair of oppositely-angled fixation elements to transition from the collapsed delivery state to the deployed state to thereby anchor the lead to an anchor site.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the anchor site is an intertransversarii, such that the pair of oppositely-angled fixation elements sandwich the intertransversarii in the deployed state.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the introducer assembly comprises a dilator having a lumen extending therethrough configured to receive the guidewire, and an introducer sheath having a lumen extending therethrough configured to receive the dilator, the method further comprising removing the dilator prior to advancing the lead through the introducer assembly.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

inserting a stylet through a lumen of the lead prior to advancing the lead through the introducer assembly; and

removing the stylet from the lead when the one or more electrodes are disposed near or in contact with the tissue associated with control of the lumbar spine.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising implanting an implantable pulse generator configured to be coupled to the lead.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the one or more electrodes to stimulate the tissue associated with control of the lumbar spine.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein implanting the lead comprises implanting the lead such that the one or more electrodes are positioned to stimulate nervous tissue innervating a multifidus muscle.