Medical electrical lead

• US 20020099430A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Verness, David D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,785,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A temporary backup mechanism for electrical conduction within an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided. In an IMD such as lead or catheter having a cable conductor for conducting an electrical signal is provided with a safety cable for conducting an electrical signal if the primary cable conductor fails. In one embodiment, the conductor is a cable positioned adjacent to the safety cable so that the cable is in electrical contact with the conductor along various points on the conductor. In another embodiment, the conductor and cable are electrically isolated from one another except at proximal and distal ends where the two are mechanically coupled. In the latter embodiment, a change in impedance signals a potential conductor failure.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device (IMD) having an elongated body comprising:

an elongated conductor cable carried by the elongated body; and

a safety cable extended along at least a portion of the length of the conductor cable and being electrically coupled to the conductor cable at a first location and a second location distal to, and spaced from, the first location.

2. The IMD of claim 1, and further including an electrical connector located at a proximal end of the elongated body and electrically coupled to the conductor cable.

3. The IMD of claim 2, wherein the safety cable is electrically coupled to the electrical connector.

4. The IMD of claim 3, and further including a coil conductor to electrically couple at least one of the safety cable and the conductor cable to the electrical connector.

5. The IMD of claim 4, and further including a junction component to mechanically and electrically couple the coil conductor to the safety cable and the conductor cable.

6. The IMD of claim 3, wherein at least one of the conductor cable and the safety cable are mechanically coupled to the electrical connector.

7. The IMD of claim 1, and further including an electrode coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and wherein the conductor cable is electrically coupled to the electrode.

8. The IMD of claim 7, wherein the safety cable is electrically coupled to the electrode.

9. The IMD of claim 8, a further including a crimp sleeve to electrically couple at least one of the safety cable and the conductor cable to the electrode.

10. The IMD of claim 9, wherein the crimp sleeve is a cross-groove crimp sleeve.

11. The IMD of claim 8, wherein the electrode is an anode ring including an internal eyelet to crimp to at least one of conductor cable and safety cable.

12. The IMD of claim 8, wherein at least one of the conductor cable and the safety cable is mechanically coupled to the electrode.

13. The IMD of claim 8, wherein the electrode is selected from a group consisting of a high-voltage electrode, a ring electrode, and a tip electrode.

14. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the safety cable is substantially parallel to the conductor cable.

15. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the safety cable is wound about the conductor cable.

16. The IMD of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the length of the safety cable between the first location and the second location is electrically isolated from the conductor cable.

17. The IMD of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the length of the safety cable is surrounded by an electrically insulative material.

18. The INM of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the length of the conductor cable is surround by an electrically insulative material.

19. The IMD of claim 16, wherein the IMD includes first and second lumens to respectively carry at least a portion of the length of the safety cable and the conductor cable between the first and the second locations.

20. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the conductor cable is a stranded cable.

21. The IMD of claim 20, wherein strands of the stranded cable include multiple filars.

22. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the elongated body includes a lumen for carrying the conductor cable and the safety cable, and wherein the lumen is sized to maintain at least partial electrical contact between the conductor cable and the safety cable.