Tools and methods for implantation of implantable medical lead extensions or catheters

Abstract

Tips for use on a tunneling tool provide the ability to pull an implantable medical lead extension or catheter body through a subcutaneous tunnel. The tips may include a pin with a barb, where the barb is inserted within a compliant portion of a connector body of the lead extension or a catheter body to create an interference fit that allows the connector body or catheter body to be pulled through the tunnel. The tips may include a carrier that has a cavity for the connector body, where the tunneling is performed with the carrier present on the tunneling tool. A body is positioned within the cavity of the carrier to prevent tissue from snagging on and collecting within the carrier. The body may include a tip portion that performs the tunneling function. The carrier may also provide tunneling and/or may be attached to the tunneling tool during tunneling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly, comprising:
 an implantable medical lead extension having a connector body located on a distal end, the connector body defining a bore and a compliant distal portion; and   a tip comprising a pin having an end that is present within the bore of the connector body, the tip further comprising a barb positioned on the pin and spaced axially from the end of the pin, the barb having an interference fit within the compliant distal portion of the connector body.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle; and   a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the handle and the second end being coupled to the tip.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the handle and shaft are constructed in a unitary manner. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tip is detachable from the second end of the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the pin includes a first section positioned axially between the barb and the end having a first diameter, a second section positioned axially between the first section and the end so as to align with a set screw within the bore of the connector body, the second section having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the first section. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the pin includes a third section on a side of the barb closer to the shaft that has a third diameter and wherein the pin includes a fourth section extending axially from an end of the first section and to an edge of the barb that has a fourth diameter that is smaller than the third diameter of the third section. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the third diameter of the third section is a same diameter as a diameter of the barb. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the diameter of the fourth section is larger than the diameter of the first section. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the barb is tapered on a side closer to the end and blunt on a side closer to the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tip is constructed of a biocompatible metal. 
     
     
         11 . A method of implanting an implantable medical lead extension, comprising:
 providing a tool that has a shaft that is located within a subcutaneous tunnel between a first incision and a second incision in a patient with a handle on one end of the shaft that is present externally of the subcutaneous tunnel in proximity to the first incision and with a pull-through tip on the other end of the shaft that is present externally of the subcutaneous tunnel in proximity to the second incision, wherein the tip comprises a pin having an end and a barb positioned on the pin and spaced axially from the end of the pin;   inserting the pin into a bore of a connector body located on a distal end of the implantable lead extension while inserting the barb within a compliant distal portion of the connector body to create an interference fit of the barb to the compliant distal portion;   pulling the tool including the tip through the subcutaneous tunnel and out of the first incision to thereby pull the connector body and the implantable lead extension through the subcutaneous tunnel; and   after pulling the tool out of the first incision, removing the pin from the bore of the connector body while removing the barb from within the compliant distal portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising tightening a set screw of the connector body onto the pin prior to pulling the tool and loosening the set screw after pulling the tool and prior to removing the pin from the bore. 
     
     
         13 . A tool for pulling an implantable medical lead extension through a subcutaneous tunnel, comprising:
 a handle;   a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the handle;   a tip coupled to the second end of the shaft, the tip comprising a carrier body that forms a partial cylindrical wall with a cavity being defined by the partial cylindrical wall; and   a body that is removably positioned within the cavity that creates an interference fit with the tip.   
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein the body comprises a tip portion that is located externally of the cavity and forms an end opposite the handle.