IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD WITH BIASED ELECTRODE

• US 20090054936A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sommer, John L., Eggen, Michael D., Miyazawa, Gabriela C., Ebert, Michael, Bourn, David Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

This disclosure describes implantable medical leads that include a lead body and an electrode. A width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about the perimeter of the lead. The uneven width of the electrode may bias a stimulation field in a particular direction, e.g., a radial or transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the lead. Electrodes with an uneven width may be useful for controlling the direction of propagation of the stimulation field in order to, for example, avoid phrenic nerve stimulation during LV pacing or neck muscle stimulation during vagal neurostimulation.

Claims

1. An implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead insulative body; and

an electrode along a perimeter of the insulative body, wherein a width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about a perimeter of the lead.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a first electrode, further comprising a second electrode axially displaced along a length of the insulative body from the first electrode.

3. The lead of claim 2, wherein a width of the second electrode varies in the longitudinal direction about the perimeter of the lead.

4. The lead of claim 3, wherein the first and second electrodes are complimentary along an interface between the first and second electrodes.

5. The lead of claim 4, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes.

6. The lead of claim 3, wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode and the width of the second electrode being substantially about the same around the perimeter of the lead.

7. The lead of claim 2, wherein the second electrode comprises a plurality of electrode segments, each of the electrode segments extending around less than the entire perimeter of a lead.

8. The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a ring electrode.

9. A system comprising:

an implantable medical lead, wherein the lead comprises;

a lead body; and

an electrode, wherein a width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about a perimeter of the lead; and

a medical device that delivers electrical stimulation via the electrode.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrode comprises a first electrode, further comprising a second electrode axially displaced along a length of the lead from the first electrode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second electrode comprises a tip-ring electrode positioned at a distal tip of the lead.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second electrode comprises a ring electrode, wherein a width of the second electrode varies about the perimeter of the lead.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode and the width of the second electrode is substantially the same around a circumference of the lead.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the medical device selectively activates at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to control a direction of propagation of a stimulation field emanating from the selected electrodes.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second electrodes being complimentary along an interface between the first and second electrodes.

16. The lead of claim 15, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a third electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode varies about the perimeter of the lead, and wherein the second and third electrodes being complimentary along an interface between the second and third electrodes.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode, the width of the second electrode, and the width of the third electrode being substantially the same about the perimeter of the lead.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes and the second and third electrodes.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a fourth electrode positioned at a distal tip of the lead.

21. The system of claim 9, wherein the medical device comprises an implantable medical device.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the medical device comprises a cardiac stimulator.

23. A method of implanting an implantable medical lead comprising:

inserting the lead into a patient, wherein the lead includes;

a lead body, and

an electrode, wherein a width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about a perimeter of the lead;

visualizing an orientation of the lead within the patient;

adjusting the orientation of the lead based on the visualization; and

delivering therapy to the patient using the electrode.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the electrode to deliver therapy to the patient.

25. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical lead comprising:

forming a lead body over at least one conductor; and

coupling an electrode to the conductor, wherein a width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about a perimeter of the lead after coupling the electrode to the conductor.

26. A method comprising:

implanting an electrical stimulation lead within a patient, the lead comprising;

a lead body, and

an electrode, wherein a width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about a perimeter of the lead; and

delivering stimulation therapy to a tissue within the patient using the electrode.