IMPLANTABLE LEAD WITH ELECTRONICS

• US 20090088812A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wulfman, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

One example includes an implantable lead including an elongate lead body which includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. In the example, the lead includes a coupler configured to couple to an implantable medical device. The lead includes a first conductor, coupled to the coupler, and extending away from the coupler at least partially through the lead. The lead includes a first electrode, located on the lead away from the coupler and a first switch, located on the lead away from the coupler, the first switch configured to control conductivity between the conductor and the electrode. The lead also includes a first controller circuit, coupled to the conductor and including a first multiplexer circuit configured to multiplex over the conductor a first signal and a second signal, the first controller circuit configured to control the first switch based at least on the first signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable lead, comprising an elongate lead body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the lead comprising;

a coupler, located at the proximal portion of the elongate lead body, the coupler configured to couple to an implantable medical device;

a first conductor, coupled to the coupler, and extending away from the coupler at least partially through the lead along the elongate lead body;

a first electrode, located on the lead away from the coupler;

a first switch, located on the lead away from the coupler, the first switch configured to control conductivity between the conductor and the electrode; and

a first controller circuit, located on the lead away from the coupler, the first controller circuit coupled to the conductor and including a first multiplexer circuit configured to multiplex over the conductor a first signal and a second signal, the first controller circuit configured to control the first switch based at least on the first signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead body comprises only one conductor extending from the proximal portion of the lead body to the distal portion of the lead body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a sensor, located at the distal portion of the lead body and coupled to the first controller circuit, wherein the first signal includes sensor information associated with the sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a second switch configured to control conductivity between the conductor and a second electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising a second controller circuit coupled to the conductor and including a second multiplexer circuit configured to multiplex over the conductor the first signal and the second signal, the second controller circuit configured to control the second switch based at least on the first signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller circuit is configured to control the first switch based at least on the first signal, wherein the first signal includes a pulse delivery program.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first controller circuit includes a timer circuit, and wherein the pulse delivery program includes a specified delay used by the timer to control the first switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first controller circuit includes a timer circuit, and wherein the pulse delivery program is used by the timer to control the first switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the multiplexer is configured to provide the second signal that includes a charging signal for an electrostimulation capacitor located on the lead.

10. A method, comprising:

multiplexing a first signal and a second signal for conduction between an implantable medical device and a portion of an elongate lead body coupled to, and located away from, the implantable medical device; and

using at least the first signal, controlling a switching at the portion of the lead body located away from the implantable medical device.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

using at least the first signal, controlling the switching at the portion of the lead body located away from the implantable medical device for transmitting an electrostimulation or defibrillation energy from the implantable medical device to a first electrode located at the portion of the lead body located away from the implantable medical device.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising:

powering a first controller circuit, located at the portion of the lead body located away from the implantable medical device, using energy stored at the portion of the lead body located away from the implantable medical device using the second signal, the powering occurring when the first controller Circuit is decoupled from the implantable medical device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the multiplexing includes simplex communication.

14. The method of claim 12, where the multiplexing includes duplex communication.

15. The method of claim 10, comprising:

using the first signal to control switching, at a location on the elongate lead body located away from the implantable medical device, to deliver charge from the implantable medical device to a first electrostimulation capacitor located on the lead body away from the implantable medical device; and

using the first signal to control switching, at a location on the elongate lead body located away from the implantable medical device, to discharge energy from the electrostimulation capacitor.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising using the first signal to provide information to control pacing.

17. The method of claim 10, comprising:

providing the first signal and the second signal to a second controller circuit located on the lead body away from the implantable medical device; and

using at least the first signal and the second controller circuit, controlling a switching on the lead body away from the implantable medical device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the multiplexing comprises:

communicating a pulse synchronization information from the implantable medical device to the first controller circuit and the second controller circuit using the first signal; and

using the pulse synchronization information, controlling switching of first and second switches located on the lead body away from the implantable medical device.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising switching the first switch and the second switch at a delay specified in the pulse synchronization information.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising:

populating a pacing vector table according to one or more sensed depolarizations;

comparing the pacing vector table to a specified pacing vector table; and

switching the first switch and the second switch based on the comparison of the pacing vector table and the specified pacing vector table.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

switching, at the implantable medical device, to control conductivity to a third electrode of the implantable medical device such that a pacing vector extends between at least the first and third electrodes.