Electrode Fixing Sleeve

Abstract

An electrode fixing sleeve for fixing an electrode lead to biological tissue, the electrode fixing sleeve including a distal sleeve section and a proximal sleeve section, at least one distal electrode guiding region on the distal sleeve section and at least one proximal electrode guiding region on the proximal sleeve section, the distal electrode guiding region and proximal electrode guiding region having a common longitudinal axis. The distal and proximal sleeve sections are adjustable relative to one another along the common longitudinal axis. The electrode fixing sleeve additionally includes at least one electrode fixing element at least parts of which have elastic properties, the electrode fixing element being mounted on both the distal and proximal sleeve sections, and being designed so that at least parts of it move along the common longitudinal axis if a tensile force acts on the electrode fixing element along the common longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An electrode fixing sleeve for fixing an electrode lead to biological tissue, comprising: a distal sleeve section and a proximal sleeve section; at least one distal electrode guiding region on the distal sleeve section and at least one proximal electrode guiding region on the proximal sleeve section; and a common longitudinal axis of the distal electrode guiding region and the proximal electrode guiding region, wherein the distal sleeve section and the proximal sleeve section are adjustable relative to one another along the common longitudinal axis, and the electrode fixing sleeve additionally comprises at least one electrode fixing element at least parts of which have elastic properties, the electrode fixing element being mounted both on the distal sleeve section and on the proximal sleeve section, and being designed so that at least parts of it move along the common longitudinal axis if a tensile force acts on the electrode fixing element along the common longitudinal axis.

2. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the electrode fixing element has at least one adhesive surface that faces the common longitudinal axis and that has a coefficient of friction of at least 0.8 with respect to plastics.

3. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the electrode fixing element comprises a tubular structure, whose longitudinal axis runs collinear with the common longitudinal axis.

4. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 3, wherein the tubular structure has a defined transverse contraction behavior, if the tubular structure undergoes a defined longitudinal expansion.

5. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive surface of the electrode fixing element is 30 mm.sup.2 to 200 mm.sup.2.

6. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the electrode fixing element comprises, at a distal end and/or at a proximal end, at least one sliding body with which the electrode fixing element is mounted on the proximal sleeve section and/or the distal sleeve section so that it can rotate about the common longitudinal axis and be fixed along the common longitudinal axis.

7. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein at least sections of the electrode fixing element are arranged in the distal electrode guiding region and the proximal electrode guiding region.

8. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the proximal sleeve section and the distal sleeve section are adjustable relative to one another along the common longitudinal axis through a thread.

9. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the electrode fixing sleeve comprises a securing element to secure a relative adjustment state of the distal sleeve section and the proximal sleeve section.

10. The electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 8, wherein the electrode fixing sleeve comprises a securing element in the form of a thread interruption and/or a catch.

11. A system comprising at least: an electrode fixing sleeve according to claim 1; and an electrode lead.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a coefficient of friction between the electrode fixing element of the electrode fixing sleeve and the electrode lead is at least 0.8.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein relative adjustment of the distal sleeve section and the proximal sleeve section along the common longitudinal axis can produce a corresponding longitudinal expansion of a tubular structure of the electrode fixing element and, as a consequence of a defined transverse contraction behavior of the tubular structure, create a frictional engagement between the tubular structure and the electrode lead.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the frictional engagement is able to transfer a static friction of from 2 N to 50 N.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the frictional engagement is produced by a relative adjustment travel of from 2 mm to 20 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of at least one embodiment of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an inventive system with an inventive electrode fixing sleeve and an electrode lead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out at least one embodiment of the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the preset invention. The scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an inventive system 10 with an inventive electrode fixing sleeve 12 and an electrode lead 14. The electrode fixing sleeve 12 is shown in a cross-sectional view.

[0052] The inventive electrode fixing sleeve 12 has a distal sleeve section 16 and a proximal sleeve section 18. The proximal sleeve section 18 and the distal sleeve section 16 are adjustable relative to one another along the common longitudinal axis L through a thread 20. The distal sleeve section 16 has a distal electrode guiding region 22, and the proximal sleeve section 18 has a proximal electrode guiding region 24. The proximal and distal electrode guiding regions 22, 24 are each in the form of cylindrical holes 26 through the respective sleeve sections 16, 18. A diameter d1-3 of the cylindrical through holes 26 varies along the common longitudinal axis L. This produces a receiving area 28 for an electrode fixing element 30. The electrode fixing element 30 comprises a tubular structure 32, which has one sliding body 38 each at a distal end 34 and a proximal end 36. Here the respective sliding bodies 38 are in the form of washers 40. The washers 40 are arranged in areas of the cylindrical through holes 26, which have the diameter d2 and thus each form a receiving groove 42 for the washers 40. Each receiving groove 42 has one of the washers 40 mounted in it so that it can rotate about the common longitudinal axis L. The tubular structure 32 is arranged in areas of the cylindrical through holes 26 which have the diameter d3. The washers 40 also allow the tubular structure 32 to rotate about the common longitudinal axis L. The tubular structure 32 consists of silicone and has elastic material properties. The tubular structure 32 here is also in the form of a woven fabric. Generally speaking, the tubular structure 32 here functions according to the principle of the so-called Chinese finger trap.

[0053] Adjustment of the distal sleeve section 16 and the proximal sleeve section 18 relative to one another along the common longitudinal axis L through the thread 20 can apply a tensile force Fz onto the tubular structure 32 through the washers 40. This causes the tubular structure 32 to undergo a longitudinal expansion Δl. The longitudinal expansion Δl also corresponds to an adjustment travel, covered by the distal sleeve section 16 relative to the proximal sleeve section 18, along the common longitudinal axis L. Here the longitudinal expansion Δl or the adjustment travel are limited by a securing element 44 in the form of a thread interruption 46. The securing element additionally comprises a catch 48, which ensures that the distal sleeve section 16 and the proximal sleeve section 18 remain at a defined adjustment travel s corresponding to a defined relative adjustment state. The tubular structure 32 has defined transverse contraction behavior. The longitudinal expansion Δl elastically reduces a diameter D of the tubular structure 32.

[0054] In the inventive system 10, which also comprises, in addition to the electrode fixing sleeve 12, the electrode lead 14 as an element, the reduction of the diameter D presses an adhesive surface 50 of the tubular structure 32 against an outer lateral surface 52 of the electrode lead 14. This applies a fixation force Fx onto the electrode lead 14. This leads to a frictional engagement between the outer lateral surface 52 of the electrode lead 14 and the adhesive surface 50 of the tubular structure 32.

[0055] In this case, an adjustment travel or a longitudinal expansion Δl of 3 mm reduces the diameter D by 0.6 mm. These values give a value of 20 N for the fixation force Fx. Here the adhesive surface 50 of the tubular structure 32 is 100 mm.sup.2, so that the fixation force Fx leads to a surface pressure of 0.2 N/mm.sup.2. In this case, the material used for the tubular structure 32 is a woven fabric made of polyester, polyamide, nylon, or Kevlar®. A mixed woven fabric is also possible. The outer sheath 52 of the electrode lead 14 consists of silicone or silicone-urethane-copolymer. Thus, between the adhesive surface 50 of the tubular structure 32 and the outer sheath 52 of the electrode lead 14 there is a coefficient of friction μ of 0.8 through 1.2. However, the coefficient of friction μ can also be above it or below it, and can be influenced, for example, by applying a lubricant. The competent person skilled in the art determines this on the basis of the disclosed design aspects. As a consequence this, the frictional engagement is reliably able to keep the electrode lead 14 from slipping in the electrode fixing sleeve 12 up to a force F of 20 N acting on the electrode lead 14.

[0056] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternate embodiments may include some or all of the features disclosed herein. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range.