Document Reference: ENG-UMAN-000730
Revision: 6.00
Page 17 of 40
Create a strain relief loop in the lead
1.
Using blunt dissection, create a small subcutaneous pocket at the incision site for a
small loop of lead.
2.
Create a loop in the lead and insert into the small pocket to provide some slack to
minimize tension on the lead due to body movement (refer to Figure 6.4).
•
If the CLS is to be implanted, proceed to section 7 ‘Lead Tunneling and CLS Implant
Procedure’.
Figure 6.4: The strain relief loop. Note that the strain relief loop should be on the CLS or
lead extension side of the anchor.
7
Lead Tunneling and CLS Implant Procedure
Locate and create a pocket for the CLS
Typically, the pocket is located in soft fleshy tissue at the top of the buttocks or on the
patient’s flank.
1.
Mark the location for the incision and mark the size of the pocket required.
o
The pocket should be the same size as the CLS.
2.
Create an incision with a scalpel and a subcutaneous pocket with blunt dissection.
o
The pocket should 0.5 cm to 2 cm (0.2 in to 0.8 in) below the skin surface.
Tunnel the lead proximal connectors and connect to the CLS
1.
Create a pocket for the coiled leads (refer to Figure 7.1).
Figure 7.1: Create a pocket for the coiled lead
•
For a single pass tunneling procedure (when the required tunnel is shorter than the
tunneling tool) proceed to section 7.2.1.
