Implantable device and tissue anchor

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to an implantable device that includes a tissue anchor for securing a portion of the device to tissue of the patient. Embodiments of the implantable device include an electrode lead and a pelvic treatment apparatus. One embodiment of the electrode lead ( 104 ) comprises a lead body ( 110 ), an electrode ( 111 ) attached to a distal end ( 114 ) of the lead body and a tissue anchor ( 120 ). The electrode comprises a plurality of stimulation elements ( 112 ) formed of an electrically conductive material, and at least one insulative element ( 116 ) formed of an electrically non-conductive material. The stimulation elements and the at least one insulative element are joined together to form a stacked column ( 140 ) of alternating stimulation and insulative elements. The electrode lead also comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires ( 118 ) each extending through the lead body and coupled to one of the stimulation elements. The tissue anchor is configured to facilitate anchoring the electrode to tissue ( 240 ) of the patient. One embodiment of the tissue anchor comprises a plurality of suture wings ( 172 ). Each suture wing comprises first and second ends ( 174, 176 ) that are attached to the stimulation element or the insulative element. Each suture wing also comprises an intermediary portion ( 178 ) that extends between the first and second ends. The suture wings each form a suture hole ( 180 ), through which a suture ( 198 ) can be fed for anchoring the electrode to tissue of the patient. Another embodiment of the tissue anchor comprises a body ( 190 ) and a suture lock ( 192 ). The suture lock comprises a passageway ( 220 ) formed in the body and configured to receive a portion ( 223 ) of the suture ( 198 ). The suture lock also includes a pinching component ( 222 ) that is configured to pinch the portion of the suture within the passageway and prevent movement of the portion of the suture relative to the pinching component. Another embodiment of the implantable electrode lead comprises a lead body ( 110 ), an electrode ( 111 ) attached to the distal end ( 114 ) of the lead body and a tissue anchor ( 120 ). The electrode includes at least one stimulation element ( 112 ) formed of an electrically conductive material. An electrically conductive wire ( 118 ) extending through the lead body and coupled to the stimulation element. The tissue anchor is attached to the lead body and is configured to facilitate anchoring the electrode to tissue of the patient. The tissue anchor comprises an anchor body ( 190 ) having a needle receptacle ( 212 ), a needle ( 214 ) removably received within the needle receptacle and a suture ( 198 ) having a first end ( 216 ) attached to the needle. In yet another embodiment of the invention is directed to an assembly that comprises a trocar ( 270 ) and an electrode lead ( 104 ) installed within the trocar. The electrode lead comprises a lead body ( 110 ), an electrode ( 111 ) formed of an electrically conductive material attached to a distal end ( 114 ) of the lead body, and a tissue anchor ( 257 ) attached to the distal end of the lead body. In one embodiment, the anchor comprises mesh ( 260 ). Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a kit ( 320 ) that includes a trocar ( 270 ) and an electrode lead ( 104 ) formed in accordance with embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the kit includes an installation tool ( 276 ) configured to prepare the anchor for installation in the trocar. In one embodiment, the kit includes a deployment tool ( 292 ) configured to expand the mesh of the anchor within tissue of the patient. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an implantable device ( 104, 130 ) comprising a lead body ( 110, 132 ) and a tissue anchor ( 120, 257 ). In one embodiment, the tissue anchor ( 120 ) comprises an anchor body ( 190 ) having a needle receptacle ( 212 ), a needle ( 214 ) removably received within the needle receptacle and a suture ( 198 ) having a first end ( 216 ) attached to the needle.

1 . An implantable electrode lead for facilitating electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, the electrode lead comprising:
 a lead body having a distal end;   an electrode attached to the distal end of the lead body, the electrode comprising:
 a plurality of stimulation elements formed of an electrically conductive material; and 
 at least one insulative element formed of an electrically non-conductive material; 
 wherein the stimulation elements and the at least one insulative element are joined together to form a stacked column of alternating stimulation and insulative elements; 
   a plurality of electrically conductive wires extending through the lead body, each wire coupled to one of the stimulation elements; and   a tissue anchor configured to facilitate anchoring the electrode to tissue of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode lead of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue anchor comprises a plurality of suture wings, each suture wing comprising first and second ends attached to one of the stimulation elements or one of the at least one insulative element and an intermediary portion extending between the first and second ends, wherein the suture wings each form a suture hole, through which a suture can be fed for anchoring the electrode to tissue of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode lead of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue anchor comprises:
 a body; and   a suture lock comprising:
 a passageway formed in the body and configured to receive a portion of a suture; and 
 a pinching component configured to pinch the portion of the suture within the passageway and prevent movement of the portion of the suture relative to the pinching component. 
   
     
     
         4 . The electrode lead of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the stimulation elements comprises a body having first and second ends; and   each of the at least one insulative elements comprises a body having first and second ends that are respectively configured to interconnect with the second and first ends of the body of one of the stimulation elements.   
     
     
         5 . The electrode lead of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the second end of the body of the stimulation element comprises a receptacle; and   the first end of the body of the insulative element comprises a protrusion that is received within the receptacle.   
     
     
         6 . The electrode lead of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first end of the body of the insulative element comprises a receptacle; and   the second end of the body of the stimulation element comprises a protrusion that is received within the receptacle.   
     
     
         7 . The electrode lead of  claim 4 , wherein the body of the stimulation element and the body of the insulative element are coaxial. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode lead of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue anchor comprises mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode lead of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more electrically conductive wires each coupled to one of the stimulation elements and the mesh. 
     
     
         10 . An implantable electrode lead for facilitating electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, the electrode lead comprising:
 a lead body having a distal end;   an electrode attached to the distal end of the lead body, the electrode comprising at least one stimulation element formed of an electrically conductive material;   an electrically conductive wire extending through the lead body and coupled to the stimulation element; and   a tissue anchor attached to the lead body and configured to facilitate anchoring the electrode to tissue of the patient, the tissue anchor comprising:
 an anchor body having a needle receptacle; 
 a needle removably received within the needle receptacle; and 
 a suture having a first end attached to the needle. 
   
     
     
         11 . The electrode lead of  claim 10 , wherein the tissue anchor comprises a suture lock comprising:
 a suture passageway formed in the anchor body and configured to receive a portion of the suture; and   a pinching component within the suture passageway configured to pinch a portion of the suture within the passageway and prevent movement of the portion of the suture relative to the pinching component.   
     
     
         12 . The electrode lead of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor body comprises the at least one stimulation element. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode lead of  claim 10 , wherein the needle receptacle is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The electrode lead of  claim 10 , wherein the passageway comprises a bore through the anchor body. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode lead of  claim 10 , wherein the pinching component comprises a constriction formed in the passageway. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implantable device comprising:
 a lead body;   a tissue anchor attached to the lead body comprising:
 an anchor body having a needle receptacle; 
   a needle removably received within the needle receptacle; and   a suture having a first end attached to the needle.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue anchor comprises a suture lock comprising:
 a suture passageway formed in the anchor body and configured to receive a portion of the suture; and   a pinching component within the suture passageway configured to pinch a portion of the suture within the passageway and prevent movement of the portion of the suture relative to the pinching component.   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the needle receptacle is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the pinching component comprises a constriction formed in the passageway.