Lead for stimulating the baroreceptors in the pulmonary artery

• US 20070038261A1
• 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:
  US11/482,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038261A1
• 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, an expandable electrode coupled to the lead body, the expandable electrode having an expanded diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery and an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the expandable electrode, wherein the implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreceptor stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in an artery via the electrode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

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

an expandable electrode coupled proximate the distal end, the expandable electrode having an expanded diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery; and

an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the expandable 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 expandable electrode includes a mesh surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable electrode expands to fix the lead in place by frictional forces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable electrode includes a length of at least about 1 cm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable electrode includes an expanded diameter of about 10 to 20 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable electrode includes at least a partially electrically insulated surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead includes a second electrode located proximally from the expandable electrode.

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

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

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode is adapted to be located near the ligamentum arteriosum of the left pulmonary artery.

11. 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. An apparatus comprising:

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

an electrode coupled to the lead body;

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; and

means for passively fixating the electrode within the pulmonary artery.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for passively fixating includes an expandable stent structure coupled to the lead.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the stent structure includes an expanded diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the expanded diameter is about 10 to 20 mm.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the expandable stent expands to fix the lead in place by frictional forces.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the expandable stent structure includes a length of at least about 1 cm.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pulse generator delivers at least a 10 hertz pulse train via the electrode.

22. A method comprising:

implanting an expandable electrode within a pulmonary artery such that an outer surface of the expandable electrode abuts a wall of the pulmonary artery; and

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

23. The method of claim 22, wherein implanting includes implanting an expandable electrode having an expanded diameter dimensioned to fix the electrode in place by frictional forces.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrode is adapted to be chronically implanted in the pulmonary artery.

25. The method of claim 22, further including monitoring a blood pressure.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein implanting includes implanting the electrode proximate the ligamentum arteriosum of the left pulmonary artery.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein implanting includes feeding the electrode through a right ventricle and a pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to position the electrode in the pulmonary artery.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein implanting includes implanting an expandable electrode having an expanded diameter of about 10 to 20 mm.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein delivering a baroflex stimulation signal includes an at least 10 hertz pulse train via the electrode.

30. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible lead body;

an expandable electrode coupled to the lead body, the expandable electrode having an expanded diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery; and

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

31. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible lead body;

an electrode coupled to the lead body;

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 an artery via the electrode; and

means for passively fixating the electrode within the artery.

32. A method comprising:

implanting an expandable electrode within an artery such that an outer surface of the expandable electrode abuts a wall of the artery; and

delivering a baroreceptor stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the artery via the electrode.