Assembly kit for creating paddle-style lead from one or several percutaneous leads and method of lead implantation

Abstract

In one embodiment, an assembly for conducting pulses from an implantable pulse generator, comprises: at least one percutaneous lead comprising terminals and at least two groups of electrodes, each group of electrodes possessing an intra-group electrode spacing; a frame member comprising first and second arms, the frame member comprising an inner lumen for removably housing the at least one percutaneous lead, each arm of the first and second arms comprising a plurality of apertures that are spaced according to the intra-group electrode spacing to allow conduction of electrical pulses from the electrodes of the at least one percutaneous lead to tissue of the patient when the lead is positioned within the frame member; and a spring member that is connected to the frame member for maintaining the first and second arms of the frame member at a predetermined distance in the absence of an external force on the spring member.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An assembly for conducting electrical pulses from an implantable pulse generator to tissue in a patient, the assembly comprising:
 at least one percutaneous lead comprising terminals and at least two groups of electrodes, each group of electrodes possessing an intra-group electrode spacing;   a frame member comprising first and second arms, the frame member comprising an inner lumen for removably housing the at least one percutaneous lead, each arm of the first and second arms comprising a plurality of apertures that are spaced according to the intra-group electrode spacing to allow conduction of electrical pulses from the electrodes of the at least one percutaneous lead to tissue of the patient when the lead is positioned within the frame member; and   a spring member that is connected to the frame member for maintaining the first and second arms of the frame member at a predetermined distance in the absence of an external force on the spring member.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring member exhibits a spring characteristic from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring member comprises a metal element that provides a shape memory characteristic. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the frame member is fabricated from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a thin membrane structure disposed between the first and second arms of the frame member. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring member is attached to a distal end of the frame member. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the spring member is removable from the frame member. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the spring member is shaped to collapse when an end of the spring member is inserted within an implantation tool. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the spring and frame members are fabricated from polyether-ketone ketone (PEKK). 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the frame member comprising arcuate extensions from the first and second arms to collapse the spring member when the arcuate extensions are withdrawn into an explantation tool. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one percutaneous lead is a single percutaneous lead, wherein the first and second groups of electrodes are spaced apart on a body of the single percutaneous lead by a distance equal to a distance between most distal apertures of the frame member including a distance along the spring member. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the frame member further comprises one or several retention clips for retaining the at least one percutaneous lead. 
     
     
         13 . A method of implanting at least one percutaneous lead within the epidural space of a patient, comprising:
 inserting the at least one percutaneous lead within a lumen of a frame member, the frame member comprising first and second arms, each arm of the first and second arms having a plurality of apertures;   adjusting the at least one percutaneous lead within the lumen of the frame member such that electrodes of the at least one percutaneous lead are accessible through the plurality of apertures of the first and second arms;   placing an insertion tool within the epidural space of the patient, wherein the insertion tool comprises a lumen;   inserting the at least one percutaneous lead within the frame member into the epidural space of the patient through the insertion tool;   wherein when the frame member exits the insertion tool, the first and second arms of the frame member are extended apart by a spring member attached to the frame member.