Hermetic component housing for photonic catheter

• US 20030083728A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Greatbatch, Wilson, Weiner, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,988,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0565 Electrode heads

Abstract

A hermetic component housing for use with a photonic catheter connected to a photonic pacemaker or other medical system designed for compatibility with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures. The hermetic housing includes a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end. The body is formed with a hermetically sealed interior for carrying one or more electrical and/or optical components therein. The proximal end of the body is adapted to mount to a distal end of a photonic catheter carrying a fiber optic element or bundle. A hermetic terminal is provided to allow the fiber optic element or bundle to communicate with the body interior. The body can be adapted to mount (or function as) one or more electrodes designed for delivering or sensing electrical signals to body tissue, or it may be adapted to mount no electrodes. The component housing may be implemented by itself at the distal end of the photonic catheter, or it may be used in conjunction with other housings of like or different construction.

Claims

1. A hermetic housing for mounting to a distal end of a photonic catheter and adapted to house an optical component therein, comprising:

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body for enclosing the optical component therein;

said proximal end of said housing body being adapted to mount to a distal end of a photonic catheter having a fiber optic element; and

a hermetic terminal allowing said fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior.

2. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

3. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.

4. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing body is made from an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance.

5. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing body is made from a non-electrically conductive material and has a coating layer comprising an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance to allow said hermetic housing to function as a ring electrode.

6. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein said distal end of said housing is adapted to mount to a proximal end of an insulative stub carrying a tip electrode structure, and wherein said housing includes a second hermetic terminal allowing an electrical lead to extend from said housing body interior through said stub to said tip electrode structure.

7. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing body is made from a non-electrically conductive material and has a pair of spaced coating layers comprising an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance to allow said hermetic housing to function as a combination tip and ring electrode.

8. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 5, wherein said housing body is made from a ceramic material and said tip and said ring coatings are metallic coatings selected from the group comprising platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.

9. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein said housing body is made from a ceramic material and said tip and said ring coatings are metallic coatings selected from the group comprising platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.

10. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housing body is made from a ceramic material and said tip and said ring coatings are metallic coatings selected from the group comprising platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.

11. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing body interior houses an opto-electrical transducer in the form of a photodiode array.

12. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing body interior houses an electro-optical transducer in the form of a light emitting diode and a sense signal amplifier.

13. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing body interior houses a microprocessor.

14. The hermetic housing as claimed in claim 13, wherein said housing body interior houses components for sensing one or more of core body temperature, cardiac R waves, and partial oxygen pressure.

15. In a photonic pacemaker, a hermetic component carrying housing, comprising:

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body enclosing an optical component therein;

said proximal end of said housing body being mounted to a distal end of a photonic catheter carrying a fiber optic element; and

a hermetic terminal allowing said fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior.

16. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

17. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.

18. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing body is made from an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance.

19. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing body is made from a non-electrically conductive material and has a coating layer comprising an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance to allow said hermetic housing to function as a ring electrode.

20. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 19, wherein said distal end of said housing is mounted to a proximal end of an insulative stub carrying a tip electrode structure, and wherein said housing includes a second hermetic terminal allowing an electrical lead to extend from said housing body interior through said stub to said tip electrode structure.

21. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing body is made from a non-electrically conductive material and has a pair of spaced coating layers comprising an electrically conductive material of low magnetic susceptance to allow said hermetic housing to function as a combination tip and ring electrode.

22. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claims 20, wherein said housing body is made from a ceramic material and said tip and said ring coatings are metallic coatings selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium and alloys thereof.

23. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claims 21, wherein said housing body is made from a ceramic material and said tip and said ring coatings are metallic coatings selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium and alloys thereof.

24. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 15, wherein said housing body interior houses an opto-electrical transducer in the form of a photodiode array.

25. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 24, wherein said housing body interior houses an electro-optical transducer in the form of a light emitting diode and a sense signal amplifier.

26. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 25, wherein said housing body interior houses a microprocessor.

27. The hermetic component carrying housing as claimed in claim 26, wherein said housing body interior houses components for sensing one or more of core body temperature, cardiac R waves, and partial oxygen pressure.

28. A medical system, comprising:

a control unit adapted to generate body tissue stimulation signals;

a photonic catheter having a proximal end in communication with said control unit and a fiber optic element for carrying optical stimulation signals, said catheter further having a distal end; and

a hermetic housing;

said hermetic housing including,

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end,

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body enclosing an optical component therein,

said proximal end of said housing body being mounted to said distal end of said photonic catheter,

a hermetic terminal allowing said photonic catheter fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior, and

means for delivering said stimulation signals to implanted body tissue.

29. The medical system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

30. The medical system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.

31. The medical system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said control unit is adapted to receive sensing signals representing one or more body function parameters and said means senses body function parameters and generates said sensing signals.

32. A medical system, comprising:

a control unit adapted to receive sensing signals representing one or more body function parameters;

a photonic catheter having a proximal end in communication with said control unit and a fiber optic element for carrying optical sensing signals, said catheter further having a distal end; and

a hermetic housing;

said hermetic housing including,

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end,

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body enclosing an optical component therein,

said proximal end of said housing body being mounted to said distal end of said photonic catheter,

a hermetic terminal allowing said photonic catheter fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior, and

means for sensing body function parameters and generating said sensing signals.

33. The medical system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

34. The medical system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.

35. A photonic catheter unit adapted for use with a medical system, comprising:

a hermetic component carrying housing;

a fiber optic element for carrying optical stimulation signals between a control unit located at a proximal end of fiber optic element and said hermetic component carrying housing located at a distal end of said fiber optic element; and

a biocompatible sheath covering said fiber optic element;

said hermetic component carrying housing including,

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end,

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body enclosing an optical component therein,

said proximal end of said housing body being mounted to said distal end of fiber optic element,

a hermetic terminal allowing said photonic catheter fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior, and

means for delivering said stimulation signals to implanted body tissue.

36. The photonic catheter unit as claimed in claim 35, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

37. The photonic catheter unit as claimed in claim 35, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.

38. The photonic catheter unit as claimed in claim 35, wherein said fiber optic element carries optical sensing signals between the control unit located at the proximal end of fiber optic element and said hermetic component carrying housing located at the distal end of said fiber optic element and said means senses body function parameters and generates said sensing signals.

39. A photonic catheter unit adapted for use with a medical system, comprising:

a hermetic component carrying housing;

a fiber optic element for carrying optical sensing signals between a control unit located at a proximal end of fiber optic element and said hermetic component carrying housing located at a distal end of said fiber optic element; and

a biocompatible sheath covering said fiber optic element;

said hermetic component carrying housing including,

a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end,

a hermetically sealed interior in said housing body enclosing an optical component therein,

said proximal end of said housing body being mounted to said distal end of fiber optic element,

a hermetic terminal allowing said photonic catheter fiber optic element to communicate with said housing body interior, and

means for sensing one or more body function parameters and generating said sensing signals.

40. The photonic catheter unit as claimed in claim 39, wherein said hermetically sealed interior in said housing body encloses an electrical component therein.

41. The photonic catheter unit as claimed in claim 39, wherein said fiber optic element is part of a fiber optic bundle.