TRANSIENT VOLTAGE/CURRENT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLANTED LEADS

• US 20100023095A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dabney, Warren S., Stevenson, Robert A., Lardo, Albert C., Brainard, Scott, Truex, Buehl E., Halperin, Henry R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39624 Pain reduction therapy
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 1/0007 of radio frequency interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0107 Non-linear filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1758 Series LC in shunt or branch path H03H7/1791 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1766 Parallel LC in series path H03H7/1783 takes precedence

Abstract

A transient voltage/surge current protection system is provided for electronic circuits associated with implanted leads. In particular, a transient voltage suppressor such as a diode, a zener diode, a transorb, a surge protector, varistor components or the like, is placed in parallel with the electronic circuits to thereby divert harmful surge current and bypass the electronic circuit during an external defibrillation event or during an applied therapeutic shock, such as from an ICD.

Claims

1. A transient voltage/surge current protection system, comprising:

a lead having a proximal end and a distal end, disposed within a living body;

an electronic circuit associated with the lead between the proximal end and the distal end; and

a transient voltage suppressor electrically connected in parallel with the electronic circuit.

2. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the lead comprises a probe, a catheter, or a leadwire connected to an active medical device.

3. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the lead is either temporarily or permanently implanted in a human body.

4. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a frequency selective diverter or impeder circuit.

5. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 4, wherein the frequency selective diverter or impeder circuit comprises an electronic filter.

6. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 5, wherein the electronic filter comprises a passive low pass filter, an L-C trap filter, or a bandstop filter.

7. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a micro electrical-mechanical switch (MEMS), a passive electronic switch, an active electronic switch, an electronic multiplexer or a diode switch.

8. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the transient voltage suppressor comprises a diode, a zener diode, a transorb, a surge protector, or varistor components.

9. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the transient voltage suppressor comprises back-to-back diodes in parallel with the electronic circuit.

10. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 9, wherein the back-to-back diodes comprise zener diodes.

11. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a capacitor having a first electrode plate separated from a second electrode plate by a dielectric material.

12. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 11, wherein the dielectric material comprises a varistor dielectric material.

13. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, comprising a hermetic container in which the electronic circuit is disposed.

14. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, comprising a hermetic container in which the transient voltage suppressor is disposed.

15. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 2, wherein the lead includes a therapy delivery or sensing electrode, and wherein the electronic circuit is closely associated with the therapy delivery or sensing electrode.

16. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 15, wherein the therapy delivery or sensing electrode comprises a tip electrode and a ring electrode.

17. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 15, wherein the therapy delivery or sensing electrode comprises a neurostimulator.

18. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit and the transient voltage suppressor comprise discrete components physically arranged in series, but electronically connected in parallel.

19. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a discrete capacitor and a discrete inductor physically arranged in series, but electronically connected in parallel.

20. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 19, wherein the transient voltage suppressor comprises a first diode physically arranged in series with the capacitor and the inductor, but electronically connected in parallel to each.

21. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 20, wherein the transient voltage suppressor comprises a discrete second diode physically arranged in series with the first diode, the capacitor and the inductor, but electronically connected in parallel to each.

22. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 18, comprising a hermetic container in which the electronic circuit and the transient voltage suppressor are disposed.

23. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 1, including a second transient voltage suppressor disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the lead.

24. The transient voltage/surge current protection system of claim 23, wherein the second transient voltage suppressor comprises a fast-acting switch disposed within an active medical device associated with the lead.