Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator employing a telescoping lead

• US 20060025826A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bardy, Gust H., Erlinger, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing including a first electrode; a telescoping lead assembly including a second electrode, wherein the telescoping lead assembly is electrically and mechanically coupled to the housing; and an electrical circuit located within and electrically coupled to the housing.

Claims

1. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing defining a channel, the housing having a first electrode disposed thereon;

a lead assembly including a second electrode, wherein at least a portion of the lead assembly is slidably disposed within the channel for selective telescoping movement relative to the housing such that the lead assembly is selectively adjustable between a plurality of positions relative to the housing;

a securing structure for selectively securing the lead assembly to the housing such that it is non-slidably secured at a desired position; and

an electrical circuit located within the housing and electrically coupled to the housing.

2. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the lead assembly is selectively slidably adjustable between a first position in which the first and second electrodes are spaced apart by a first distance, and a second position in which the first and second electrodes are spaced apart by a second distance greater than the first distance, and the securing structure selectively non-slidably secures the lead assembly to the housing in the first and second positions.

3. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the lead assembly is selectively slidably adjustable between a first position in which the portion of the lead assembly disposed within the channel has a first length, and a second position in which the portion of the lead assembly disposed within the channel has a second length less than the first length, and the securing structure selectively non-slidably secures the lead assembly to the housing in the first and second positions.

4. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the securing structure includes a set screw.

5. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an electrical contact disposed within the channel and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit, and wherein the lead assembly includes an electrical contact disposed thereon and electrically coupled to the second electrode, and wherein the when the lead assembly is slidably adjusted to the desired position within the channel and the securing structure selectively secures the lead assembly to the housing, the electrical contact on the lead assembly engages the electrical contact on the housing, thereby electrically coupling the lead assembly to the housing.

6. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 5, wherein the lead assembly includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and the second electrode and the electrical contact of the lead assembly are disposed on the bottom surface of the lead assembly.

7. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are each individually a pacing electrode, a shocking electrode, or a sensory electrode.

8. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are both a shocking electrodes.

9. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are both subcutaneous shocking electrodes adapted to provide defibrillation energy to a patients heart from a subcutaneous position within the patient.

10. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the housing and the lead assembly are substantially curved in shape to conform to the curvature of the ribcage of a patient.

11. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the portion of the lead assembly slidably disposed within the channel is substantially planar in shape.

12. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a covering, and the covering defines at least a portion of the channel.

13. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the channel is substantially enclosed and defines an opening into which a portion of the lead assembly is disposed.

14. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first surface and left and right overhang portions connected to the first surface that at least partially define the channel.

15. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing defining a slot and having a first electrode disposed thereon;

an elongated lead assembly including a second electrode, wherein at least a portion of the lead assembly is slidably disposed within the slot for selective telescoping movement relative to the housing such that the lead assembly is selectively adjustable between a first extended position and a second contracted position;

a securing structure for selectively non-slidably securing the lead assembly to the housing in the first and second position; and

an electrical circuit located within and electrically coupled to the housing.

16. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the housing includes an electrical contact within the slot and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit, and the lead assembly includes an electrical contact disposed thereon and electrically coupled to the second electrode, wherein the when the lead assembly is slidably adjusted to the first position, the electrical contact on the lead assembly engages the electrical contact on the housing, thereby electrically coupling the lead assembly to the housing.

17. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 16, wherein the when the lead assembly is slidably adjusted to the first or second position, the electrical contact on the lead assembly engages the electrical contact on the housing, thereby electrically coupling the lead assembly to the housing.

18. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 16, wherein the housing includes a second electrical contact within the slot and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit, wherein the when the lead assembly is slidably adjusted to the second position, the electrical contact on the lead assembly engages the second electrical contact on the housing, thereby electrically coupling the lead assembly to the housing.

19. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the connecting structure includes a set screw.

20. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a covering, and the covering defines at least a portion of the channel.

21. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the first electrode is disposed on a bottom surface of the housing and the channel is defined adjacent the top surface of the housing.

22. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the first and second electrodes are both subcutaneous shocking electrodes adapted to provide defibrillation energy to a patient'"'"'s heart from a subcutaneous position within the patient.

23. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the housing and the lead assembly are substantially curved in shape to conform to the curvature of the ribcage of a patient.

24. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a first surface and left and right overhang portions connected to the first surface that at least partially define the slot.

25. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing having first electrode disposed thereon;

an electrical circuit located within the housing and electrically coupled to the first electrode;

an elongated lead assembly including a second electrode;

means for providing sliding engagement of the elongated lead assembly with the housing for selective telescoping movement of the lead relative to the housing such that the lead assembly is selectively adjustable between a plurality of positions relative to the housing;

means for selectively securing the lead assembly to the housing such that it is non-slidably secured at a desired position; and

means for providing electrical communication between the electrical circuit and the second electrode.