Cardiac pacing

• US 10,022,539 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atacor Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atacor Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Sanghera, Rick, Marcovecchio, Alan, McGeehan, Sean, Burke, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US14/846,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20160067488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3427 for intercostal space
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3482 inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/059 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0592 Introducing the lead through the pericardium with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3655 controlled by body or blood temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 : Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

A cardiac pacing system that includes an implantable pulse generator and electrical leads that include a lead body portion having a distal end and a proximal end, a connector configured to electrically connect the proximal end of the lead body to the pulse generator, and at least one electrode disposed at the distal end of the lead body for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart, wherein the distal end of the lead body is configured to terminate within the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity of the patient, proximate to the heart.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a cardiac pacing system into a patient comprising:

implanting a pulse generator into a patient, the pulse generator configured to generate therapeutic electrical pulses for pacing a heart of a patient;

inserting a lead associated with the pulse generator into an intercostal space at a location of a cardiac notch of the patient, the lead having a distal end configured to transmit the therapeutic electrical pulses from the pulse generator to the heart; and

positioning the distal end within a mediastinum, proximate the heart, but not physically in contact with the heart.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the pulse generator is implanted subcutaneously.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the pulse generator is implanted submuscularly.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein implanting the pulse generator comprises:

implanting the pulse generator adjacent a sternum of the patient.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the pulse generator comprises a housing having a chisel-shaped end, and implanting the pulse generator comprises:

separating tissue planes of the patient by advancing the chisel-shaped end of the housing into the patient.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein inserting the lead further comprises positioning the distal end within the intercostal space.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising positioning the lead within a receptacle in the intercostal space.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein inserting the lead further comprises positioning the distal end on an inner surface of an innermost intercostal muscle.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein inserting the lead further comprises positioning the distal end within the mediastinum but not physically in contact with a pericardium.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein:

the lead comprises one or more lead sensors disposed at the distal end of the lead, the one or more lead sensors configured to monitor physiological characteristics of the patient; and

,

the pulse generator is configured to adjust the therapeutic electrical pulses generated by the pulse generator based on signals, received from the one or more lead sensors, associated with the physiological characteristics of the patient.