Method and apparatus for shunting induced currents in an electrical lead

• US 20030144716A1
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Reinke, James D., Zeijlemaker, Volkert A., Wilkinson, Jeffrey D., Foerster, Laurie D., Kalin, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents

Abstract

An electrical lead end cap includes a body defining a bore therein capable of receiving and retaining an end of an electrical lead and a connector capable of electrically coupling conductors leading to at least two electrodes. A method includes routing an electrical current induced in an electrical lead conductor disposed within body tissue to a plurality of electrodes, electrically coupled with the body tissue, via a circuit within an end cap attached to the electrical lead.

Claims

1. An electrical lead end cap, comprising:

a body defining a bore therein capable of receiving and retaining an end of an electrical lead; and

a connector capable of electrically coupling conductors leading to at least two electrodes.

2. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, wherein a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the electrical lead end cap.

3. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes are lead electrodes.

4. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical filter coupled to the connector and being capable of impeding a current having a first frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled and capable of allowing a current having a second frequency to flow through conductors when the conductors are coupled.

5. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 4, wherein:

a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the lead end cap; and

the second electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure and the electrical filter is disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

6. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, further comprising a capacitor coupled to the connector and being capable of impeding a current having a first frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled and capable of allowing a current having a second frequency to flow through the filter when the conductors are coupled.

7. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 6, wherein:

a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the lead end cap;

the second electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure; and

the capacitor is disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

8. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, further comprising a first capacitor and an LC network electrically coupled to the connector, wherein:

the first capacitor is capable of impeding a current having a first frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled and is capable of allowing a current having a second frequency to flow through the conductors when the conductors are coupled; and

the LC network is capable of impeding a current having a third frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled.

9. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 8, wherein:

a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the lead end cap;

the second electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure; and

the capacitor and the LC network are disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

10. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first capacitor electrically coupled to the connector;

an inductor electrically coupled to the connector; and

a second capacitor electrically coupled in parallel with the inductor,

wherein;

the first capacitor is capable of impeding a current having a first frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled and is capable of allowing a current having a second frequency to flow through the conductors when the conductors are coupled; and

the inductor in combination with the second capacitor are capable of impeding a current having a third frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled.

11. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 10, wherein:

a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the lead end cap;

the second electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure; and

the first capacitor, the inductor, and the second capacitor are disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

12. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a capacitor electrically coupled to the connector; and

an inductor having self capacitance electrically coupled to the connector,

wherein;

the capacitor is capable of impeding a current having a first frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled and is capable of allowing a current having a second frequency to flow through the conductors when the conductors are coupled; and

the inductor is capable of impeding a current having a third frequency from flowing through the conductors when the conductors are coupled.

13. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 12, wherein:

a first electrode of the at least two electrodes is a lead electrode and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes is an electrode of the lead end cap;

the second electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure; and

the capacitor and the inductor are disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

14. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 1, wherein the electrical lead further comprises:

an elongate body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and

a lead electrode disposed adjacent and joined to the distal end portion of the elongate body, wherein;

the conductor of the electrical lead extends between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the elongate body and is electrically coupled to the lead electrode; and

the proximal end portion is capable of being received and retained in the bore defined by the body of the electrical lead end cap.

15. An electrical lead end cap, comprising:

a body defining a bore therein capable of receiving and retaining an end of an electrical lead;

an electrode insulatingly attached to the body; and

a connector capable of electrically coupling a conductor of the electrical lead and the electrode.

16. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically coupled with the connector and extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure; and

an electrical filter having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical filter is disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

17. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically coupled with the connector and extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure; and

a capacitor having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the capacitor is disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure.

18. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically coupled with the connector and extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure;

an LC network disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection; and

a capacitor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the LC network and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure.

19. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically coupled with the connector and extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure;

an inductor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection; and

a capacitor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the second connection of the inductor and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure.

20. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically coupled with the connector and extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure;

an inductor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection;

a first capacitor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and having a first connection electrically coupled with the second connection of the inductor and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure; and

a second capacitor disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure and being electrically coupled in parallel with the inductor.

21. An electrical lead end cap, according to claim 15, wherein the electrode further comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the electrical lead end cap further comprises:

a pin electrically extending into the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the pin is electrically insulated from the hermetically sealed enclosure;

a capacitor having a first connection electrically coupled with the pin and a second connection electrically coupled with the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the capacitor is disposed within the hermetically sealed enclosure; and

an inductor having self-capacitance and being disposed within the body and external to the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the inductor is electrically coupled with the pin and the connector.

22. A method comprising routing an electrical current induced in an electrical lead conductor disposed within body tissue to a plurality of electrodes, electrically coupled with the body tissue, via a circuit within an end cap attached to the electrical lead.

23. A method, according to claim 22, wherein routing the electrical current further comprises routing the electrical current to a lead electrode and to an end cap electrode.

24. A method, according to claim 22, wherein routing the electrical current further comprises routing the electrical current to a plurality of lead electrodes.

25. A method, according to claim 22, wherein routing the electrical current further comprises:

routing the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a first predetermined range; and

inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a second predetermined range.

26. A method, according to claim 22, wherein selectively routing the electrical current further comprises:

routing the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a first predetermined range;

inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a second predetermined range; and

inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the current is generated by an antenna effect in the conductor.

27. An apparatus comprising means for routing an electrical current induced in an electrical lead conductor disposed within body tissue to a plurality of electrodes, electrically coupled with the body tissue, via a circuit within an end cap attached to the electrical lead.

28. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein the means for routing the electrical current further comprises means for routing the electrical current to a lead electrode and to an end cap electrode.

29. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein the means for routing the electrical current further comprises means for routing the electrical current to a plurality of lead electrodes.

30. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein the means for routing the electrical current further comprises:

means for routing the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a first predetermined range; and

means for inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a second predetermined range.

31. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein the means for routing the electrical current further comprises:

means for routing the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a first predetermined range;

means for inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the frequency of the current is within a second predetermined range; and

means for inhibiting the flow of the electrical current to the plurality of electrodes if the current is generated by an antenna effect in the conductor.