ANTI-COAGULATION AND DEMINERALIZATION SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTIVE MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20070156214A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pederson, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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. A method for conditioning an implanted biomedical device in a human patient, said method comprising:

(a) providing an implanted system having;

(i) a current generating means;

(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and

(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;

(b) positioning said first electrode subcutaneously at a first position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

(c) positioning said second electrode subcutaneously at a second position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted biomedical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and

(d) causing said current generating means to generate an electric field that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby providing an electrical current at said implanted biomedical device.

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

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein a blood-contacting portion of said implanted biomedical device is fabricated from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium, and stainless steel.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said implanted biomedical device is selected from the group consisting of a prosthetic heart valve, a cardiac stent, and an artificial conductive blood vessel.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein a blood-contacting portion of said prosthetic heart valve is the valve housing and valve leaflets thereof.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the generated current is sub-threshold.

7. A method 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. A method as in claim 7 wherein said current generating means is disposed at said monolithic structure.

9. A method for conditioning an implanted biomedical device in a human patient, said method comprising:

(a) providing a therapeutic system having;

(i) a current generating means;

(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and

(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;

(b) removably securing said first electrode to a first position external to the patient'"'"'s body;

(c) removably securing said second electrode to a second position external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted biomedical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area of the patient'"'"'s body substantially between said first and second electrodes; and

(d) causing said current generating means to generate an electrical field that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby providing an electrical current at said implanted biomedical device.