US 11,890,463 B2
Medical lead for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with electrical stimulation
Avram Scheiner, Vadnais Heights, MN (US); Patrick W. Kinzie, Glendale, AZ (US); Randal C. Schulhauser, Phoenix, AZ (US); and David C. Hacker, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Assigned to Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed by Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/652,428.
Application 17/652,428 is a division of application No. 16/752,163, filed on Jan. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,273,305.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176106 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/375 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/0548 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3468 (2013.01); A61N 1/3601 (2013.01); A61N 1/37518 (2017.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of implanting a lead, the method comprising:
inserting a needle through tissue near a chin of a patient and through a tongue of the patient;
inserting an introducer through an opening created by the needle;
inserting the lead through the introducer, the lead comprising one or more fixation members, an elongated member, and one or more electrodes in a distal portion of the elongated member such that the one or more electrodes are implanted proximate to one or more motor points of a protrusor muscle within the tongue of the patient, wherein inserting the lead comprises inserting the lead to have a shape of one of a helix, a compound helix, a wave shape, or saw-tooth shape, or to have a loop in the lead; and
deploying at least one fixation member of the one or more fixation members, wherein the at least one fixation member, when deployed, defines a peak between a first connection point on a first collar of a plurality of collars on the lead and a second connection point on a second collar of the plurality of collars on the lead, and wherein the peak is a point of the at least one fixation member that is furthest from the elongated member upon the deployment of the at least one fixation member.