Engagement tool for implantable medical devices

Abstract

Systems for adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient include an engagement tool configured to couple to the implanted medical device. The engagement tool adjusts the position of the medical device when coupled to the implanted medical device. Methods of adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient include locating the implanted medical device, coupling an engagement tool to the medical device, and adjusting a position of the engagement tool to adjust the position of the medical device.

1 . A system for adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient, said system comprising: 
 an engagement tool configured to couple to said implanted medical device;    wherein said engagement tool is used to adjust said position of said medical device when coupled to said implanted medical device.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises a number of teeth configured to engage with an engagement component that is coupled to said medical device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said engagement component comprises a number of edges located about a perimeter of said engagement component, wherein said teeth are configured to engage with said edges.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of said engagement tool releases said medical device from surrounding tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises: 
 a net configured to be tightened around said implanted medical device.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said engagement tool further comprises one or more wires coupled to said net, wherein said wires are configured to adjust a position of said net.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said engagement tool further comprises a needle for guiding said net to said implanted medical device.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises: 
 a syringe device configured to adjust said position of said medical device with a vacuum pressure within said syringe device.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises: 
 a cannula having one or more inwardly extending members configured to prevent said medical device from advancing beyond a predetermined point within said cannula.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more inwardly extending members comprise at least one adhesive substance for adhesively coupling said inwardly extending members to said medical device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises a cannula with one or more convex members configured to engage with one or more corresponding concave notches of said medical device.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises a cannula at least partially filled with a fluid, wherein energy is transmitted through said fluid to said implanted medical device to loosen said medical device from surrounding tissue.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises: 
 one or more gripping arms each comprising a gripping device at a proximal end, wherein said gripping devices are configured to engage with said medical device.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said gripping devices comprise at least one or more of a convex member, block, tooth, hook, serration, and adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said gripping devices are configured to rotate about one or more axis.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises a clamping member configured to clamp onto said medical device.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said engagement tool further comprises an adjustment device coupled to the clamping member, said adjustment device being configured to control said clamping member.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises an adjustable loop structure configured to couple to said medical device.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said engagement tool further comprises a tapered neck configured to compress said loop structure while said loop structure is located within a lumen of said engagement tool.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said loop structure comprises a sharp edge for cutting through tissue.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said adjustable loop structure is wire.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement tool comprises a magnet configured to magnetically couple to said medical device.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an engagement component coupled to said medical device, said engagement component configured to couple to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a cannula configured to be inserted into said patient;    wherein said engagement tool inserted into a lumen of said cannula.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said cannula comprises one or more cutting edges configured to cut tissue as said cannula is advanced into said patient.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a needle with a blunt end, said blunt end configured to spread tissue as said needle is advanced into said patient.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an optical needle configured to transmit light to a location of said implanted medical device.    
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said medical device comprises at least one or more of a stimulator, microstimulator, stent, pacemaker, bone fixation device, pump, and defibrillator.  
     
     
         29 . A system for adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient, said system comprising: 
 an engagement component coupled to said medical device;    wherein said engagement component is configured to couple with an engagement tool to adjust said position of said medical device.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises multiple edges located around a perimeter of said medical device, said edges configured to engage with corresponding teeth of said engagement tool.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises one or more concave notches for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a female threaded cavity for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a male threaded member for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises an outwardly extending ball member for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises an outwardly extending member having a hole that is configured to couple to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a hollow cavity for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises an elongated member extending away from said medical device, said elongated member configured to couple to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein said elongated member comprises at least one or more of a tether, cord, wire, thread, ribbon, lace, and line.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein said elongated member comprises an identification marker configured to identify a location of said implanted medical device.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein said engagement component further comprises at least one or more of a ball structure and a ring structure coupled to a distal end of said elongated member for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a conical member for dissecting tissue as said position of said medical device is adjusted.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a flexible tube for coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component comprises a magnet for magnetically coupling to said engagement tool.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component is permanently coupled to said medical device.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said engagement component is removably coupled to said medical device.  
     
     
         46 . A method of adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient, said method comprising: 
 locating said implanted medical device;    coupling an engagement tool to said medical device; and    adjusting a position of said engagement tool to adjust said position of said medical device.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising coupling said engagement tool to an engagement component of said medical device.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising gradually dilating a channel that leads to said implanted medical device.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said step of gradually dilating said channel comprises sequentially inserting into said channel a first cannula having a first diameter and a second cannula having a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is larger than said first diameter.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said step of gradually dilating said channel comprises sequentially inserting a series of successively larger dilating sheaths into said channel.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said step of locating said medical device comprises using images generated from at least one or more of laparoscopy, fluoroscopy, x-ray, ultrasound, computerized axial tomography, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said step of locating said medical device comprises manual palpation.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising removing said medical device from said patient.  
     
     
         54 . A system for adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient, said system comprising: 
 means for engaging said implanted medical device, said engaging means configured to be inserted into said patient; and    means for coupling said engaging means to said implanted medical device;    wherein said means for engaging said implanted medical device is used to adjust said position of said medical device.