Percutaneous leads with laterally displaceable portions, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Percutaneous leads with laterally displaceable sections, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a lead body that in turn includes first, second and third percutaneous portions. The first portion can carry an electrical contact, the second portion can be spaced apart from the first portion, and the third portion can be positioned between the first and second portions along a deployment axis. The third portion can have a stiffness in a direction transverse to the deployment axis that is less than a stiffness of both the first and second portions transverse to the deployment axis, and a diameter that is less than corresponding diameters of the first and second portions.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A patient treatment device, comprising:
 a signal delivery device that includes a percutaneous portion carrying a plurality of electrodes, the signal delivery device having an aperture extending into the percutaneous portion, the aperture being coupled to a bayonet receptacle, the bayonet receptacle including a chamber and an entry positioned between the chamber and the aperture, the entry and the chamber having different cross-sectional shapes.   
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the entry has a slot shape. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the entry has a non-isodiametric shape. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the chamber has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a stylet having a bayonet fitting, the bayonet fitting having a cross-sectional shape configured to be received in the entry and the chamber of the bayonet receptacle. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38  wherein the percutaneous portion and the stylet are elongated along a deployment axis, and wherein the stylet is rotatable about the deployment axis relative to the percutaneous portion between a secured position and an unsecured position. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the percutaneous portion includes:
 a first percutaneous portion carrying the plurality of electrodes and having a first aperture, the first portion having a first diameter; 
 a second percutaneous portion spaced apart from the first portion and having a second aperture, the second portion having a second diameter; and 
 a third percutaneous portion positioned between the first and second portions along a deployment axis and having a third diameter less than the first and second diameters, the third portion having a stiffness in a direction transverse to the deployment axis that is less than a stiffness of the first portion transverse to the deployment axis, and less than a stiffness of the second portion transverse to the deployment axis, the third portion including multiple electrical signal paths between the second portion and the electrodes of the first portion. 
 
     
     
         41 . A neural stimulation system, comprising:
 a lead body that includes:
 a first percutaneous portion carrying a plurality of electrodes, the first portion having a first aperture and a bayonet receptacle, the bayonet receptacle including an entry and a chamber, the entry having a non-isodiametric shape; and 
 a second percutaneous portion carrying a plurality of connection terminals. 
   
     
     
         42 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 41  wherein the first portion has a first diameter and the second portion has a second diameter, the system further comprising a third percutaneous portion having a third diameter less than the first diameter and the second diameter, the third portion including an electrical link between the electrodes and the connection terminals. 
     
     
         43 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 42  wherein the first portion, the second portion and the third portion are arranged along a deployment axis, and wherein the third portion has a stiffness in a direction transverse to the deployment axis that is less than a stiffness of the first portion transverse to the deployment axis, and less than a stiffness of the second portion transverse to the deployment axis. 
     
     
         44 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 41 , further comprising a third percutaneous portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion and including a plurality of wires connected between individual electrodes and corresponding connection terminals. 
     
     
         45 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 44  wherein the third portion further includes a casing at least partially surrounding the wires. 
     
     
         46 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 41 , further comprising a stylet having a bayonet fitting, the bayonet fitting having a shape corresponding to the non-isodiametric shape of the entry, and wherein the chamber comprises a cylindrical shape, the bayonet fitting rotatable within the chamber. 
     
     
         47 . The neural stimulation system of  claim 41 , further comprising a stylet having a bayonet fitting, the bayonet fitting being configured to pass through the entry and rotate within the chamber. 
     
     
         48 . A patient treatment device, comprising:
 a percutaneously implantable lead, the lead including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes an electrode, a first aperture, and a bayonet receptacle, wherein the second portion includes a second aperture, and wherein the bayonet receptacle includes an entry and a chamber, the entry having a different cross-sectional shape than the chamber.   
     
     
         49 . The patient treatment device of  claim 48  wherein the cross-sectional shape of the entry is non-isodiametric. 
     
     
         50 . The patient treatment device of  claim 48 , further comprising a stylet configured to releasably couple to the first portion, the stylet including a bayonet fitting having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the entry. 
     
     
         51 . The patient treatment device of  claim 48 , further comprising a stylet having a slot-shaped bayonet fitting, the stylet being configured to pass through the entry and rotatably couple with the first portion. 
     
     
         52 . The patient treatment device of  claim 48  wherein the second portion further includes a connection terminal, wherein the lead further comprises a third portion, and wherein the third portion includes a wire operably coupling the connection terminal to the electrode. 
     
     
         53 . The patient treatment device of  claim 48 , further comprising a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion having a reinforcing fiber configured to control lateral flexibility.