Controllable, wearable MRI-compatible pacemaker with power carrying photonic catheter and VOO functionality

• US 20020116034A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Weiner, Michael, Greatbatch, Wilson, Miller, Victor, Connelly, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US09/885,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

A controllable, wearable MRI-compatible, fixed-rate (VOO) pacemaker includes a self-contained steady state power source and an oscillator housed at the proximal end of a photonic catheter in a first enclosure. Continuous electrical energy is delivered from the power source and electrical pulses are delivered from the oscillator. The continuous electrical energy and electrical pulses are converted into respective continuous and pulsing light energy and directed into the proximal end of the photonic catheter. The photonic catheter includes optical conduction pathways and a covering of biocompatible material. Light entering the proximal end of the photonic catheter is transmitted through the optical conduction pathways, where it is collected and converted back to electrical energy at a second enclosure located at the distal end of the photonic catheter. The second enclosure houses a pulse generator power amplifier that is powered by the continuous electrical energy and triggered by the electrical pulses to periodically deliver electrical pulses to bipolar heart electrodes. One of the electrodes comprises the second enclosure housing the pulse generator and the other electrode is provided by another enclosure that is spaced from the second enclosure. The electrical pulses are delivered to the electrodes at an amplitude of about 3.3 volt and a current of about 3 milliamperes for a total pulse power output of about 10 milliwatts. The pulse rate and pulse duration may be varied.

Claims

1. An MRI-compatible wearable cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a photonic catheter;

a self-contained electrical power source housed at a proximal end of said photonic catheter;

a pulse generator distributed between said photonic catheter proximal end and a distal end of said photonic catheter, said pulse generator including an oscillator housed at said photonic catheter proximal end and a power amplifier housed at said photonic catheter distal end;

first power conversion means at said photonic catheter proximal end for converting steady state electrical energy output from said electrical power source to steady state optical energy for transmission through said photonic catheter;

second power conversion means at said photonic catheter distal end for converting said steady state optical energy transmitted through said photonic catheter to steady state electrical energy for powering said power amplifier;

third power conversion means at said photonic catheter proximal end for converting an electrical pulse output of said oscillator to an optical pulse for transmission through said photonic catheter; and

fourth power conversion means at said photonic catheter distal end for converting said optical pulse transmitted through said photonic catheter to an electrical pulse for triggering said power amplifier.

2. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical power source, said oscillator, said first power conversion means and said third power conversion means are housed in a first enclosure and said power amplifier, said second power conversion means and said fourth power conversion means are housed in a second enclosure, said second enclosure being hermetically sealed and made from a material selected from the group consisting of non-magnetic metallic materials and electrically conductive non-metal materials having very low magnetic susceptibility.

3. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 2, wherein said material is titanium or an alloy containing titanium.

4. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 2, wherein said material is platinum or an alloy containing platinum.

5. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 2, wherein said material is an electrically conductive composite carbon having very low magnetic susceptibility.

6. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 2, wherein said material is an electrically conductive polymer having very low magnetic susceptibility.

7. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1, wherein said photonic catheter includes a fiber optic conduction pathway.

8. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fiber optic conduction pathway is a glass or plastic fiber optic conduction pathway.

9. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1 wherein said photonic catheter comprises a fiber optic conduction pathway covered by a biocompatible covering.

10. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 9 wherein said biocompatible covering comprises a material from a group that includes silicone rubber, polyurethane and polyethylene.

11. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1 further including a pacemaker tip electrode spaced from the distal end of said photonic catheter, and wherein said power amplifier, said second power conversion means and said fourth power conversion means are housed in a ring electrode of said pacemaker connected to the distal end of said photonic catheter.

12. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 1 wherein tip and ring electrodes are made from a material selected from the group consisting of non-magnetic materials and electrically conductive non-metal materials having very low magnetic susceptibility.

13. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 2 wherein said photonic catheter has an optical coupling therein that divides said photonic catheter into a proximal portion connected to said first enclosure and a distal portion connected to said second enclosure.

15. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second enclosure comprises a hermetically sealed casing made of non-magnetic material.

16. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 15 wherein said non-magnetic material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, and alloys of titanium, alloys of platinum, copper coated with a protective and compatible plating of titanium or platinum or alloys thereof, or an electrically conductive non-metal material having very low magnetic susceptibility.

17. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second enclosure comprises a hermetically sealed casing made of non-magnetic metallic materials and electrically conductive non-metals having very low magnetic susceptibility.

18. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 17 wherein said non-magnetic materials include materials selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, and alloys thereof.

19. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 17 wherein said non-metal materials include materials selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive composite carbon and electrically conductive polymer materials having very low magnetic susceptibility.

20. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 14 wherein said optical conduction pathways comprise fiber optic elements.

21. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 20 wherein said optical conduction pathways further comprise a common biocompatible covering over said fiber optic elements.

22. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 21 wherein said covering comprises a jacket made from a group that includes silicone rubber, polyurethane and polyethylene.

23. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 22 wherein said covering has an outside diameter of about 5 millimeters.

24. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 15 wherein said casing is generally cylindrical in shape.

26. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 24 wherein said optical conduction pathways comprise fiber optic elements having a common biocompatible covering with an outside diameter, and wherein said casing has an outside diameter which is substantially co-equal to said covering outside diameter.

27. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 26 wherein the outside diameter of said casing and the outside diameter of said covering are each about 5 millimeters.

28. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 27 wherein said casing functions as a ring electrode of a tip/ring portion of said pacemaker.

29. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 28 further including a third enclosure adapted to be inserted in the implanted patient'"'"'s heart and comprising a non-magnetic casing that electrically communicates with said second enclosure and which functions as a tip electrode of said tip/ring portion of said pacemaker.

30. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 29 wherein said third enclosure is made from a material selected from the group consisting of non-magnetic metals and electrically conductive non-metals having very low magnetic susceptibility.

31. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 30 wherein said optical conduction pathways comprise fiber optic elements having a common biocompatible covering with an outside diameter, said casings of said second and third enclosures have an outside diameter which is substantially the same as said covering outside diameter, and said second and third enclosures are separated by a cylindrical length of the material used to form said biocompatible covering.

32. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 31 wherein said optical conduction pathways, said second enclosure and said third enclosure form a catheter extending from said first enclosure, said second enclosure and said third enclosure being generally cylindrical and being joined by a generally cylindrical length of a biocompatible material to form a catheter tip, and said optical conduction pathway being a fiber optic element having a biocompatible covering with an outside diameter substantially matching that of said second and third enclosures.

14. An MRI-compatible wearable cardiac pacemaker, said pacemaker comprising:

a first enclosure adapted to be located remote from a patient'"'"'s heart and outside the patient'"'"'s body;

a second enclosure unit adapted to be electrically connected to the patient'"'"'s heart;

optical conduction pathways disposed between said first and second enclosures;

a steady state optical power source in said first enclosure operatively connected to a first end of one of a first one of said optical conduction pathways;

a pulsing optical power source in said first enclosure operatively connected to a first end of another one of a second one of said optical conduction pathways;

an optically driven electrical pulse generating system in said second enclosure operatively connected to second ends of said first and second optical conduction pathways; and

said steady state optical power source being adapted to provide a steady state optical power signal through said first optical conduction pathway to power said pulse generating system; and

said pulsing optical power source being adapted to provide optical pulses through said second optical conduction pathway to trigger said pulse generating system to generate periodic electrical signals to stimulate the patient'"'"'s heart.

33. An MRI-compatible pacemaker, comprising:

a direct current voltage source housed in a first enclosure adapted to operate outside a patient'"'"'s body and to produce a steady state electrical output signal;

a pulse generating circuit housed in said first enclosure and adapted to produce a pulsing electrical signal;

a power circuit housed in a second enclosure and adapted to generate periodic heart-triggering pulses;

a cardiac electrode system adapted to electrically stimulate a heart in accordance with said heart-triggering pulses; and

an optical system adapted to transport optical signals representing said steady state electrical output signal and said pulsing electrical signal from said first enclosure to said second enclosure.