An anchor system for securing a lead to a patient's skull is disclosed.
The lead is of the type that passes through a burr hole created in the
patient's skull and includes a distal end which is implanted within the
patient's brain at a target site. The anchor, according to a first
embodiment of the invention includes a stem, an integrally formed rim
plate, and a peripheral clamping structure. The clamping structure is
adapted to receive and snugly hold a portion of the lead. The stem is
sized and shaped to fit within the burr hole, leaving the rim plate
positioned flush with the patient's skull. A flared passage is provided
within the stem and rim plate so that the lead may pass through the stem
and into the rim plate, at which point the lead follows the contours of
the flared passage and communicates with the peripheral clamping
structural. The clamping structure holds a portion of the lead so that
any tension of the lead will not be transmitted past the anchor and the
distal end of the lead will not become displaced from the target site.
According to a second embodiment, the peripheral clamping structure
includes several flexible loops that are sized and spaced from each other
to allow a lead to be laced through the loops as the lead extends about
the periphery of the rim plate.