Implantable medical device

Abstract

A device comprising: a lead extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the lead comprising, at its distal end portion, an electrode element configured for fixing in a first body tissue, the lead further comprising: an anchoring element disposed between the proximal and the distal end for anchoring the device to a second tissue; and an elastic element disposed between the anchoring element and the distal end and configured so as to permit the pulling of the distal end away from the anchoring element against the biasing force of the elastic element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of implanting a lead extending between a proximal end and a distal end and comprising in the distal-to-proximal direction an elastic element, an anchoring element and an electrode element, said method comprising:
 securing the electrode element to a first tissue;   fixing the anchoring element to a second tissue; and   inserting the distal end of the lead through a body wall from interior to exterior, such that the distal end extends out of the skin surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is fixed to a first point or section of a wire or cable included in the lead and to a second point or section of the wire or cable which is distanced from the first point by a distance measured along the wire or cable that is longer than the length of the elastic element between the first point or section and second point or section in a relaxed state thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is formed from a segment of a wire or cable included in the lead. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is a hollow element with a lumen that accommodates a portion of a wire or cable included in the lead and that can elastically deform from a first, resting state to a second, strained state in which it is biased to re-deform into the first state, the deformation from the first to the second state being induced by pulling the distal end away from the anchoring element. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the securing of the electrode element is carried out by a suture needle integral with the proximal end and cutting suture needle from the proximal end after suturing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting is carried out by a needle integral with the distal end, said needle being cut off from said distal end after said inserting. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising connecting the distal end to a monitoring or electric stimulating equipment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first tissue is a heart, myocardium or epicardium and the second tissue is a diaphragm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising inserting the distal end of the lead through the chest wall and skin from the interior to the exterior. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 securing an electrode element of a lead that extends between a proximal end and a distal end, the lead comprises in the distal-to-proximal direction an elastic element, an anchoring element and said electrode element;   fixing the anchoring element to a second tissue;   inserting the distal end of the lead through a body wall from interior to exterior, such that the distal end extends out of the skin surface;   connecting the distal end to a monitoring or electric stimulating equipment and maintaining the lead in place for a time period needed for said monitoring or stimulating;   at the end of said time period distally pulling an external portion of said distal end, thereby stretching the elastic element; and   cutting the distal end of the lead above the skin surface to leave a cut portion extending into the body, to thereby release the cut portion of the distal end of the lead to enable the biasing force of the elastic element to retract it into the body, while it reverts to a relaxed contracted state.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pulling of the distal end is substantially without displacing the electrode element. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the securing of the electrode element is carried out by a suture needle integral with the proximal end and cutting suture needle from the proximal end after suturing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said inserting is carried out by a needle integral with the distal end, said needle being cut off from said distal end after said inserting. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising connecting the distal end to a monitoring or electric stimulating equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first tissue is a heart, myocardium or epicardium and the second tissue is a diaphragm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising inserting the distal end of the lead through the chest wall and skin from the interior to the exterior. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic element is fixed to a first point or section of a wire or cable included in the lead and to a second point or section of the wire or cable which is distanced from the first point by a distance measured along the wire or cable that is longer than the length of the elastic element between the first point or section and second point or section in a relaxed state thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic element is formed from a segment of a wire or cable included in the lead. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic element is a hollow element with a lumen that accommodates a portion of a wire or cable included in the lead and that can elastically deform from a first, resting state to a second, strained state in which it is biased to re-deform into the first state, the deformation from the first to the second state being induced by pulling the distal end away from the anchoring element.