Implantable heart stimulator

• US 20040098054A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckerdal, Johan, Obel, Martin, Micski, Eva
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

An implantable heart stimulator has an electrically conductive housing containing a pulse generator, with an electrode lead connected to the housing. The electrode lead has a proximal portion extending substantially from the housing to a location, after implantation, which is beyond the entry of the lead into the venous system and before the entry of the lead into the superior vena cava. A current source supplies an infection control current between the housing and an electrically conductive surface on the exterior of the proximal portion of the electrode lead, for counteracting bacterial growth. The housing may have a header to which the electrode lead is connected, in which case the header is provided with an electrically conductive surface as well, which can serve as an electrode for the infection control current.

Claims

1. An infection control apparatus for an implantable heart stimulator comprising a pulse generator for delivering electric stimulation pulses to a patient'"'"'s heart through a lead (6,14) connectable to said pulse generator, possibly through a connector top (4,12, 28) on a pulse generator housing (2,10,20), said pulse generator housing (2,10,20) being electrically conductive, characterized in that the exterior surfaces of said possible connector top (4,12,28) and of a proximal part (8,16) of the lead (6,14) are electrically conductive, said proximal part extending to a position which after implantation of the lead is situated between a location beyond the entry into the venous system and the entry into vena cava superior, said generator housing (2,10,20) and said electrically conductive surfaces of said proximal lead part and of said possible connector top being adapted to form at least two separate electrodes, and in that a current source is provided to supply an electric infection control current between said electrodes.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said exterior electrically conductive surfaces are formed from a conducting polymer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said exterior electrically conductive surface of the proximal part of the lead is comprised of an electrically conductive coil.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said exterior electrically conductive surfaces are formed through a treatment by ion implantation technology or so-called Ion-Beam-Assisted-Deposition.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said exterior electrically conductive surfaces are formed through coating with a vapor deposition or sputtering process.

6. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said generator housing (2,10,20) is coated with one of the metals platinum, palladium or iridium or any other metal with similar electrochemical chararecteristics, or an alloy of these metals.

7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pulse generator housing (2,10) is forming one of said electrodes and is electrically isolated from said proximal part (8,16) of the lead (6,14) and possible connector top (4,12) which are forming the other electrode.

8. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1-7, characterized in that said current source is formed of an electric pulse generator battery.

9. The apparatus according to any one of the claims 1-7, said current source being externally located, characterized in that means (18) are provided to inductively couple said externally located current source to said electrodes.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said inductive coupling means comprise a thin inductive coil (18) attached to the outer surface of the pulse generator housing (20) and electrically connected to the electrodes.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said inductive coupling means comprise an inductive coil positioned inside the pulse generator housing and electrically connected to the electrodes.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9-11, characterized in that a rectifying means (26) is connected between said means or said coil and one of the electrodes to supply a DC current to the electrodes.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1-6, characterized in that an external infection control current source (31) is connected to the housing (2) and connector top (4) via transcutaneous electrodes (29,30).

14. A heart stimulator comprising a pulse generator for delivering electric stimulation pulses to a patient '"'"'s heart through a lead, connectable to said pulse generator, possibly through a connector top (4,12,28) on a pulse generator housing, said pulse generator housing (2,10,20) being electrically conductive, characterized by an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.