Method for surgically implanting an electrode device

• US 20080161894A1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-David, Tamir, Ayal, Shai, Ben-Ezra, Omry, Cohen, Ehud
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4029 for evaluating the peripheral nervous systems A61B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Apparatus is provided including an implantable sensor, adapted to sense an electrical parameter of a heart of a subject, and a first control unit, adapted to apply pulses to the heart responsively to the sensed parameter, the pulses selected from the list consisting of: pacing pulses and anti-arrhythmic energy. The apparatus further includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a coronary sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, a right ventricle of the subject, and a jugular vein of the subject; and a second control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the site a current that increases parasympathetic tone of the subject and affects a heart rate of the subject. The first and second control units are not under common control. At least one of the control units is adapted to coordinate an aspect of its operation with an aspect of operation of the other control unit. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A method for surgically implanting an electrode device in a vicinity of a nerve comprising:

placing the electrode device around the nerve;

introducing conductive solution into the electrode device such that the solution is in contact with both the electrode device and the nerve;

during implantation of the electrode device, measuring an impedance between one or more electrodes of the electrode device and an electrical contact point in electrical communication with the electrode device; and

responsively to the impedance measurement, determining whether the electrodes are positioned appropriately, and whether sufficient conductive solution is in the electrode device.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the conductive solution includes saline solution, and wherein introducing the conductive solution comprises introducing the saline solution.

77. The method according to claim 75, wherein the nerve includes a vagus nerve, and wherein placing the electrode device around the nerve comprises placing the electrode device around the vagus nerve.

78. The method according to claim 75, comprising, responsively to the impedance measurement, determining whether the electrodes are correctly sized for the nerve.

79. The method according to claim 75, wherein determining whether the electrodes are positioned appropriately comprises determining whether the electrodes are in good electrical contact with the nerve.

80. The method according to claim 75, wherein determining whether the electrodes are positioned appropriately comprises interpreting a value of the impedance measurement between 100 and 300 ohms as an indication that the electrodes are not positioned appropriately.

81. The method according to claim 75, wherein determining whether the electrodes are positioned appropriately comprises interpreting a value of the impedance measurement between 300 and 1000 ohms as an indication that the electrodes are positioned appropriately.

82. The method according to claim 75, wherein determining whether sufficient conductive solution is in the electrode device comprises interpreting a value of the impedance measurement greater than 1000 ohms as an indication that insufficient conductive solution is in the electrode device.

83. The method according to claim 75, wherein the one or more electrodes of the electrode device include at least first and second electrodes, wherein the electrical contact point includes the first one of the electrodes, and wherein measuring the impedance comprises measuring the impedance between the first and second electrodes.

84. The method according to claim 75, wherein the electrical contact point is located outside of the electrode device, and wherein measuring the impedance comprises measuring the impedance between the one or more electrodes and the electrical contact point located outside of the electrode device.

85-95. -95. (canceled)