Pulmonary artery lead for atrial therapy

• US 20040122498A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Knapp, Christopher Paul, Zhang, Yongxing, Gilkerson, James O.
• Application Number:
  US10/325,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A lead including a lead body configured into a pre-formed J-shape, and a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape, wherein the lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the lead extending through the right ventricle and the electrode positioned within a pulmonary artery. The lead can include a distal end adapted for being passively fixated within a pulmonary artery.

Claims

1. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion, wherein the lead body is configured into a pre-formed J-shape; and

a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape, wherein the lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the lead extending through the right ventricle and the electrode positioned within a pulmonary artery.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the lead is adapted to be passively fixated within the pulmonary artery.

3. The lead of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the lead includes a pre-formed biased shape.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein the lead is adapted to be positioned such that the a shock can be delivered to the left atrium via the electrode.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lead includes an anti-thrombus coating.

6. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate section, the distal end being adapted for being fixated within a pulmonary artery; and

a shocking electrode mounted proximate the distal end of the lead body;

wherein the lead body includes a pre-formed J-shape along the intermediate section of the lead body with a base of the J-shaped lead body being proximally located relative to the electrode such that the electrode is past a pulmonary artery valve when the lead is positioned in a heart with the intermediate section within the right ventricle and the distal end within a pulmonary artery.

7. The lead of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the lead includes a biased pre-formed shape adapted for passively fixating the distal end within the pulmonary artery.

8. The lead of claim 7, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes an S-shaped configuration.

9. The lead of claim 7, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a spiral configuration.

10. The lead of claim 7, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a J-shaped curve at a distal tip of the lead body.

11. The lead of claim 7, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes at least two surfaces positioned to contact opposing walls of the pulmonary artery.

12. The lead of claim 7, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a shape adapted to fixate the distal end within a branch of the pulmonary artery.

13. The lead of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the lead includes an anti-thrombosis coating.

14. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate section, the distal end being adapted for being passively fixated within a pulmonary artery; and

a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end of the lead body, wherein the lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration such that the electrode is positioned within the pulmonary artery.

15. The lead of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the lead includes a biased pre-formed shape adapted for passively fixating the distal end within the pulmonary artery.

16. The lead of claim 15, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes an S-shaped configuration.

17. The lead of claim 15, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a spiral configuration.

18. The lead of claim 15, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a J-shaped curve at a distal tip of the lead body.

19. The lead of claim 15, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes at least two surfaces positioned to contact opposing walls of the pulmonary artery.

20. The lead of claim 15, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a shape adapted to fixate the distal end within a branch of the pulmonary artery.

21. The lead of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the lead includes an anti-thrombus coating.

22. The lead of claim 14, further comprising a second shocking electrode coupled to the lead and adapted to be positioned in a superior vena cava or a right atrium.

23. The lead of claim 14, wherein the electrode is adapted to deliver shocks of energy ranging from approximately 0.1 Joules to approximately 50 Joules.

24. A method comprising:

providing a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion, the lead having a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end, wherein the lead body includes a pre-formed J-shape along the intermediate portion; and

inserting the lead through a right ventricle and into a pulmonary artery such that the shocking electrode is within the pulmonary artery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the distal end of the lead includes a pre-formed, biased shape adapted to passively fixate the distal end of the lead within a pulmonary artery.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising delivering pulses from the electrode to a left atrium.

27. A method comprising:

providing a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion, the lead having a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end, wherein the distal end of the lead includes a pre-formed, biased shape adapted to passively fixate the distal end of the lead within a pulmonary artery; and

inserting the lead through a right ventricle and into a pulmonary artery such that the shocking electrode is within the pulmonary artery and the distal end is fixated within the pulmonary artery.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes an S-shaped configuration.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a spiral configuration.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-formed, biased shape includes a J-shaped curve at a distal tip of the lead body.

31. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end; and

a shocking electrode coupled proximate the distal end of the lead body, wherein the lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration such that the electrode is positioned within the pulmonary artery;

wherein the distal end of the lead is adapted to be actively fixated within the pulmonary artery.

32. The lead of claim 31, wherein the lead includes a radiopaque marker proximate the distal end.

33. The lead of claim 31, wherein the lead includes a drug elution member proximate the distal end.