Ceramic cardiac electrodes

• US 20030144717A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagele, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,236 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 cardiac electrode termination pair system that is particularly compatible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures. The electrodes include tip and ring electrodes made of a body-compatible ceramic on which is applied via electroplating, sputtered or the like an ultra-thin conductive coating of platinum or titanium or other suitable metal which is compatible with conducting electrical impulses into cardiac tissue. The ring electrode may be adapted for connection to a photonic catheter carrying light signals or a non-photonic catheter carrying electrical signals. The ring (or the tip) may house pulse-delivering components and/or sensing components.

Claims

1. A cardiac electrode termination pair system, comprising:

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material; and

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal of low magnetic susceptance.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium and alloys thereof.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring is formed only on outside surfaces thereof.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring is formed on outside and inside surfaces thereof.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ceramic base structures of said tip and said ring are separate structures and said insulative material comprises a stub separating said tip and said ring.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ceramic base structures of said ring and said tip are integrated as a single ceramic base structure and said insulative material comprises an area of said single ceramic base structure.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a catheter containing metallic leads.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 in combination with a photonic catheter containing one or more optical conductors.

10. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said ring or said tip houses an optical termination and an opto-electrical transducer.

11. In a pacemaker, a cardiac electrode termination pair system, comprising:

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material; and

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring.

12. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal of low magnetic susceptance.

13. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium and alloys thereof.

14. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring is formed only on outside surfaces thereof.

15. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring is formed on outside and inside surfaces thereof.

16. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said ceramic base structures of said tip and said ring are separate structures and said insulative material comprises a stub separating said tip and said ring.

17. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11 wherein said ceramic base structures of said ring and said tip are integrated as a single ceramic base structure and said insulative material comprises an area of said single ceramic base structure.

18. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11, said pacemaker including a catheter containing metallic leads.

19. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 11, said pacemaker including a photonic catheter containing one or more optical conductors.

20. A pacemaker in accordance with claim 16 wherein said ring or said tip houses an optical termination and an opto-electrical transducer.

21. A medical system comprising:

a control unit adapted to generate cardiac stimulation signals and/or to receive a sensing signal representing a cardiac function;

a catheter having a proximal end in communication with said control unit for carrying said stimulation signals and/or said sensing signal, said catheter further having a distal end; and

an electrode termination pair mounted to said catheter distal end, said electrode termination pair comprising;

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring; and

means in said ring or said tip for delivering said stimulation signals to an implanted heart and/or for sensing said cardiac function and generating said sensing signal.