Anti-coagulation and demineralization system for conductive medical devices

• US 20060009804A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pederson, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

A system for minimizing and/or eliminating coagulative or mineral deposits on respective blood-contacting surfaces of implanted medical devices includes an implantable system having a current generating device that is electrically coupled to at least first and second electrodes for developing a current therebetween. The at least first and second electrodes are disposed across a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity in a manner so that a particular implanted medical device having at least a portion thereof that is fabricated from an electrically conductive material is disposed in a path substantially between such electrodes, thereby focusing the generated electrical current at the electrically conductive portion of the implanted medical device for therapeutic treatment thereat.

Claims

1. In combination with an implanted bio-medical device having a blood-contacting portion being fabricated from an electrically conductive material, an implantable system is provided for operably inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said implantable system comprising:

a current generating means;

a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means and being disposed subcutaneously at a first position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means and disposed subcutaneously at a second position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, said second position being spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes,

wherein said current generating means generates a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device.

2. An implantable system as in claim 1 wherein said current generating means is integral and contained within a pacemaker system.

3. An implantable system as in claim 1 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device is fabricated from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium, and stainless steel.

4. An implantable system as in claim 1 wherein said implanted bio-medical device is selected from the group consisting of a prosthetic heart valve, a cardiac stent, and an artificial conductive blood vessel.

5. An implantable system as in claim 4 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said prosthetic heart valve is the valve housing and valve leaflets thereof.

6. An implantable system as in claim 1 wherein the generated current is sub-threshold.

7. An implantable system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second electrodes are secured to an implantable monolithic structure that is operably implanted at a subcutaneous position.

8. An implantable system as in claim 7 wherein said current generating means is disposed at said monolithic structure.

9. In combination with an implanted bio-medical device having a blood-contacting portion being fabricated from an electrically conductive material, a therapeutic system is provided for operably inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said therapeutic system comprising:

a current generating means;

a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means and being removably secured at a first external position of the patient'"'"'s body;

a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means and removably secured to a second external position of the patient'"'"'s body, said second position being spaced from the first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes,

wherein said current generating means generates a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device.