Stimulation lead for stimulating the baroreceptors in the pulmonary artery

• US 20070038260A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Inventors: Kieval, Robert, Rossing, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/482,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus comprising, a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body having an outer diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery, an electrode coupled to the flexible lead body and an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode, wherein the implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreceptor stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the distal end having a biased portion having an outer diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery;

an electrode coupled proximate the distal end; and

an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode, wherein the implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreflex stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode includes a porous surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead includes a second electrode located proximally from the distal end.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator delivers at least a 10 hertz pulse train via the electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode is adapted to be chronically implanted in the pulmonary artery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead further includes a sensor to monitor blood pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a sensor to sense a physiological parameter regarding an efficacy of the baroreflex therapy and to provide a signal indicative of the efficacy of the baroreflex therapy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a controller connected to the pulse generator to control the baroreflex stimulation signal and to the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the efficacy of the baroreflex therapy.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead is adapted to be fed through a right ventricle and a pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to position the electrode in the pulmonary artery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator is further adapted to generate a cardiac pacing signal, the lead further including a second electrode to be positioned to deliver the cardiac pacing signal to capture the heart.

7. The apparatus of claim i, wherein the electrode is adapted to be located near the ligamentum arteriosum of the left pulmonary artery.

12. An apparatus comprising:

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

an electrode coupled to the distal end of the lead body; and

an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode, the implantable pulse generator being adapted to deliver a baroreflex stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode, wherein a biased portion of the distal end is adapted to passively fixate the electrode within the pulmonary artery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pulse generator delivers at least a 10 hertz waveform via the electrode.

14. A method comprising:

positioning an electrode on a distal end of a lead within a pulmonary artery, such that the electrode is adjacent a baroreceptor site; and

delivering a baroreflex stimulation pulse train to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein positioning the electrode includes providing the distal end with a positive fixation mechanism to implant the electrode against a wall of the pulmonary artery.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrode is adapted to be chronically implanted in the pulmonary artery.

17. The method of claim 14, further including monitoring a blood pressure to sense an efficacy of the baroreflex stimulation pulse train and to provide a signal indicative of the efficacy of the baroreflex stimulation pulse train.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein positioning includes positioning the electrode proximate the ligamentum arteriosum of the left pulmonary artery.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein positioning includes feeding the electrode through a right ventricle and a pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to position the electrode in the pulmonary artery.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein delivering the baroreflex stimulation pulse train includes an at least 10 hertz pulse train via the electrode.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body having an outer diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery;

an electrode coupled to the flexible lead body; and

an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode, wherein the implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreceptor stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible lead body;

an electrode coupled to the lead body; and

an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode, the implantable pulse generator being adapted to deliver a baroreceptor stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode, wherein the electrode is expandable to passively fixate the electrode within the pulmonary artery.

23. A method comprising:

positioning an electrode on a lead within a pulmonary artery, such that the electrode is adjacent a baroreceptor site; and

delivering a baroreceptor stimulation pulse train to the baroreceptor site in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.