Method and apparatus for selecting an optimal electrode configuration of a medical electrical lead having a multiple electrode array

• US 20030204232A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sommer, John L., McClure, Lawrence C., Cho, Yong Kyun
• Granted Patent: US 6,978,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3686 configured for selecting the electrode configuration on a lead A61N1/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3704 Circuits specially adapted therefor, e.g. for sensitivity control

Abstract

An electrical medical lead is provided having two or more electrodes, electrically insulated from each other and electrically coupled to individually insulated filars in a multi-filar coiled conductor. When the lead is used with a medical device equipped with a switch matrix, electrodes are selected individually or simultaneously to serve as an anode or cathode in any unipolar, bipolar or multi-polar configuration for delivering stimulation and/or sensing signals in excitable tissue. In one embodiment, a tip electrode array is expandable for improving electrode contact with targeted tissue and stabilizing lead position.

Claims

1. An implantable electrical lead, comprising:

an elongated lead body extending between a proximal lead end and distal lead end;

a plurality of electrodes located along the distal lead end;

an insulating material positioned between each of the plurality of electrodes to electrically isolate each of the plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of insulated electrical conductors each connected to a respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and

a microprocessor performing a threshold search corresponding to combinations of one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes to determine an optimal threshold, and selecting the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes corresponding to the optimal threshold.

2. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein the threshold search corresponds to a pacing threshold measurement.

3. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein the selected electrodes are used for delivering electrical impulses.

4. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein the threshold search corresponds to a sensing threshold measurement.

5. The implantable medical lead of claim 4, wherein the sensing threshold measurement further includes determining a signal-to-noise ratio.

6. The implantable medical lead of to claim 4, wherein the functioning electrode configuration is used for sensing depolarization signals.

7. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are circumferentially arranged along the lead.

8. The implantable medical lead of claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a staggered relative position.

9. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are positioned in a longitudinally-spaced ring arrangement.

10. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein selecting the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes corresponding to the optimal threshold is performed manually.

11. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, wherein selecting the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes corresponding to the optimal threshold is performed automatically.

12. The implantable medical lead of claim 1, further comprising an expansion member expanding the plurality of electrodes to vary an inter-electrode distance, wherein the threshold search is performed corresponding to the varied inter-electrode distance.