Micro electromechanical switches and medical devices incorporating same
First Claim
1. An apparatus for conducting electrical energy to a part of the body, the apparatus comprising:
- an input lead configured to electrically interface with an energy source and to receive the electrical energy therefrom;
a switch electrically coupled to the input lead and comprising first and second output terminals, and wherein the switch is configured to toggle the electrical energy between the first and second output terminals in response to a control signal;
a first output lead coupled to the first output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to a first location of the part of the body; and
a second output lead coupled to the second output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to a second location of the part of the body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for conducting electrical energy to a part of the body (e.g. the heart) and/or for providing sensor data from the body to a device suitably includes an input lead configured to electrically interface with a medical device. A switch electrically coupled to the input lead includes first and second output terminals and a switching input that is responsive to a control signal. The switch toggles electrical energy between first and second output leads in response to the control signal to provide energy to a particular location on the part of the body. The various electromechanical switches described herein may be useful in a wide variety of applications, including many applications in the medical device field. Such switches may be useful in producing Y-adapter-type lead multiplexers for implantable devices, for example, as well as in producing switchable electrode arrays, sensor leads and the like.
41 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for conducting electrical energy to a part of the body, the apparatus comprising:
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an input lead configured to electrically interface with an energy source and to receive the electrical energy therefrom;
a switch electrically coupled to the input lead and comprising first and second output terminals, and wherein the switch is configured to toggle the electrical energy between the first and second output terminals in response to a control signal;
a first output lead coupled to the first output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to a first location of the part of the body; and
a second output lead coupled to the second output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to a second location of the part of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for conducting electrical energy between a plurality of sensors on a human body and a device, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of input leads, each of the plurality of input leads corresponding to one of the plurality of sensors and being configured to receive the electrical energy therefrom;
a switch electrically coupled to at least two of the plurality of input leads and comprising at least one output terminal, and wherein the switch is configured to toggle a connection between the at least one output terminal and the at least two of the plurality of input leads in response to a control signal; and
at least one output lead coupled to the at least one output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy from the switch to the device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A Y-junction for providing electrical energy from an implantable device to first and second unique locations on a human heart, the Y-junction comprising:
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an input lead configured to receive the electrical energy from the implantable device;
a micro electromagnetic switch comprising an input electrically coupled to the input lead, a first output and a second output, and an actuator configured to toggle an electrical connection between the input and the first and second outputs in response to a control signal;
a first output lead coupled to the first output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to the first unique location; and
a second output lead coupled to the second output terminal of the switch and configured to conduct the electrical energy to the second unique location. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A switchable array for providing an electrical signal from an implantable device to one of a plurality of locations on a human heart, the switch array comprising:
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an interface configured to receive the electrical signal from the implantable device;
a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of electrodes corresponding to one of the plurality of locations on the human heart; and
a switch fabric electrically coupling the interface to each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the switch fabric is responsive to at least one control signal to route the electrical signal from the interface to a selected one of the plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification