Implantable electrical stimulator with deflecting tip lead

Abstract

In some examples, an implantable medical device includes an implantable housing, a neurostimulator within the housing, a plurality of electrodes, an implantable lead coupled to the housing, and an actuator formed with the housing. The implantable lead includes at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes and one or more conductors coupling the at least one electrode to the neurostimulator. The actuator is configured to cause at least a portion of the implantable lead to deflect.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implantable medical device for delivering electrical neurostimulation therapy to a target nerve of a patient to treat pelvic floor disorders, the implantable medical device comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having a neurostimulator, the neurostimulator including:
 a non-rechargeable battery configured to provide electrical power for the neurostimulator, 
 a pulse generator, and 
 a processor, and 
   an electrical lead, including an electrode electrically coupled to the neurostimulator via a conductor to allow supply of electrical power from the battery of the neurostimulator to the electrode, the electrical lead having a major longitudinal axis configured to be implanted along a length of the target nerve,   wherein the electrical lead is configured to be deflectable,   wherein the electrical lead is connected and secured to the housing during a manufacturing process so as to be permanently affixed to the housing, and   wherein the processor is configured to control the pulse generator to deliver the electrical neurostimulation therapy via the electrode.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , further comprising an actuator associated with the housing, the actuator being operable to cause at least a portion of the lead to deflect. 
     
     
         23 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the cylindrical housing has:
 a length in a range of approximately ten millimeters to thirty millimeters; and   a width in a range of approximately one-half millimeter to ten millimeters.   
     
     
         24 . The implantable medical device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the length is in a range of approximately ten millimeters to fifteen millimeters; and   the width is in a range of approximately two millimeters to four millimeters.   
     
     
         25 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a housing electrode used for unipolar neurostimulation with the electrode of the electrical lead. 
     
     
         26 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrical lead includes a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         27 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrical lead includes at least one fixation element configured to anchor the electrical lead within the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the electrical lead includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of fixation members. 
     
     
         29 . The implantable medical device of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged together in a group, and the plurality of fixation members are arranged together in a group, the group of electrodes being spaced apart from the group of fixation members. 
     
     
         30 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , the neurostimulator further including a telemetry interface coupled to the processor, the telemetry interface configured to enable communication with an external programming device. 
     
     
         31 . The implantable medical device of  claim 22 , further comprising a pull-wire connected to a distal portion of the electrical lead and connected to the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator in a first direction increases tension on the pull-wire to cause the deflection of at least the distal portion of the lead. 
     
     
         32 . The implantable medical device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the electrical lead, when deflected, includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being not substantially deflected and extending substantially along a first axis and the second portion being substantially deflected and extending substantially along a second axis;   the first axis and the second axis form an angle; and   the angle is in a range of approximately 10 degrees to 60 degrees.   
     
     
         33 . An implantable medical device for delivering electrical neurostimulation therapy to a target nerve of a patient to treat pelvic floor disorders, the implantable medical device comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having a length in a range of approximately ten millimeters to thirty millimeters, and a width in a range of approximately one-half millimeter to ten millimeters, the cylindrical housing including a neurostimulator, the neurostimulator comprising:
 a non-rechargeable battery configured to provide electrical power for the neurostimulator, 
 a pulse generator, 
 a processor, and 
 a telemetry interface coupled to the processor, the telemetry interface configured to enable communication with an external programming device; and 
   an electrical lead, including:
 an electrode electrically coupled to the neurostimulator via a conductor to allow supply of electrical power from the battery of the neurostimulator to the electrode; and 
 at least one fixation element configured to anchor the electrical lead within the patient, 
 the electrical lead having a major longitudinal axis configured to be implanted along a length of the target nerve, 
   wherein the electrical lead is configured to be deflectable,   wherein the electrical lead is connected and secured to the housing during a manufacturing process so as to be permanently affixed to the housing, and   wherein the processor is configured to control the pulse generator to deliver the electrical neurostimulation therapy via the electrode.   
     
     
         34 . The implantable medical device of  claim 33 , wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a housing electrode used for unipolar neurostimulation with the electrode of the electrical lead. 
     
     
         35 . The implantable medical device of  claim 33 , wherein the electrical lead includes a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         37 . An implantable medical device comprising:
 a housing;   a neurostimulator associated with the housing;   a lead coupled to the housing, the lead including an electrode and one or more conductors coupling the electrode to the neurostimulator;   an actuator operably connected to the housing, wherein operation of the actuator is configured to cause at least a portion of the lead to deflect, the actuator comprising:
 a locking mechanism configured to lock in place the deflection of the lead, wherein at least a portion of the actuator may be rotated to lock in place the deflection of the lead; and 
   a pull-wire connected to a distal portion of the lead and connected to the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator in a first direction increases tension on the pull-wire to cause the deflection of at least the distal portion of the lead.   
     
     
         38 . The implantable medical device of  claim 37 , wherein the neurostimulator is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the lead to provide stimulation therapy to at least one nerve. 
     
     
         39 . The implantable medical device of  claim 37 , wherein the actuator is configured to cause the lead to deflect from a first shape to a second shape, wherein the second shape comprises a curve of a radius R in a range of approximately 1 mm to 40 mm. 
     
     
         40 . The implantable medical device of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the lead, when deflected, includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being not substantially deflected and extending substantially along a first axis and the second portion being substantially deflected and extending substantially along a second axis, and   the second portion has a length in a range of approximately 5 mm to 40 mm.