IMPLANTABLE LEAD CONNECTOR

• US 20120041508A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, Mika, Yuval, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Burkhoff, Daniel, Prutchi, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• 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 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy

Abstract

An implantable lead connector configured for long term implantation and to electrically interconnect multiple medical devices and to channel electrical signals between said interconnected devices and a target organ, comprising: a first port adapted to receive a first signal suitable to stimulate a target tissue, a second port adapted to receive a second signal suitable to stimulate a target tissue, and a third port configured to connect to a target organ, wherein at least one of said first and second ports is configured to connect to a signal generator not integrated with said connector.

Claims

1. An implantable lead connector configured for long term implantation and to electrically interconnect multiple active medical devices and to channel electrical signals between said interconnected devices and a target organ, comprising:

a first port adapted to channel a first signal between a first active medical device and a target tissue;

a second port adapted to channel a second signal between a second active medical device and a target tissue; and

a third port configured to connect to a target organ,

wherein at least one of said first and second active medical devices is a signal generator not integrated with said connector.

2. A connector according to claim 1, comprising interconnection circuitry configured to selectively and alternately connect one of said first and second ports to said third port at a low impedance and to the other port at a high impedance.

3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry is configured to isolate said medical devices from each other.

4. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry is configured to allow one of said devices to detect stimulation signals by another of said devices, via said ports.

5. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry comprises a switch.

6. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry is powered by and responds to said stimulation signals.

7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein said interconnection circuitry comprises voltage-responding impedance circuits.

8. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry includes a logic circuitry and includes a memory for storing a device state or a time.

9. A connector according to claim 2, wherein said interconnection circuitry is configured to generate a blanking having duration on one of said ports in response to a signal on another of said ports.

10. A connector according to claims 1, wherein at least one of said first and second ports are male connectors and said third port is a female connector.

11. A connector according to claim 1, wherein all of said ports are standard implantable cardiac lead connectors.

12. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said third port is integrated with a cardiac lead.

13. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector is integrated with one of said medical devices.

14. A connector according to claim 13, wherein said device is configured to deliver contractility modulation signals in a manner synchronized with an ICD or pacemaker attached to said second port.

42. An implantable lead connector according to claim 1 wherein said channeling comprises delivering an electrical signal from said first or second active device to the target organ.

43. An implantable lead connector according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said ports is a wired electrical connection embedded within electrical circuitry.

44. An implantable lead connector according to claim 1 wherein said first and second active medical devices are attached to one another.

15-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of electrical device interconnection for an implantable connector, comprising:

selecting a first active device for electrically stimulating tissue;

selecting a second active device for electrically stimulating said tissue; and

coupling said first device and said second device to an electrical interconnector.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said coupling comprises couplings aid first device to an interconnector integral with said second device.

22. A method according to claim 20, comprising coupling said interconnector to said tissue.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein coupling comprises selectively isolating one device from the other device.

45. A method according to claim 20 comprising implanting the first active device and the second active device in different locations in a user'"'"'s body.

46. A method according to claim 20 comprising implanting the first active device and the second active device in a same location in a user'"'"'s body.

24-35. -35. (canceled)

36. An electrical stimulator system, comprising:

a first implantable electrical stimulator;

a second implantable electrical stimulator separate and including separate implantable housing form said first stimulator; and

implantable interconnection circuitry physically interconnecting said stimulators and a target tissue.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein said circuitry is integrated with said first stimulator.

38. A system according to claim 36, wherein said first stimulator is a contractility modulator and wherein said second stimulator is an ICD or a pacemaker.

39. A system according to claim 36, wherein said system comprises only a single lead attached to said target tissue.

40. A system according to claim 36, wherein said interconnection circuitry selectively and alternately isolates one stimulator from the other.

41. A system according to claim 36 wherein said implantable interconnection circuitry is separate from said first and second implantable electric stimulators.