Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker Triggered by Conductive Communication

• US 20130103109A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jacobson, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/059 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36842 Multi-site stimulation in the same chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3704 Circuits specially adapted therefor, e.g. for sensitivity control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3706 Pacemaker parameters stimulation threshold A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 : Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 : Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 : Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 : Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 : Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 : Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/058 : Fixing tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 : Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A leadless cardiac pacemaker configured for implantation in electrical contact with a left ventricular cardiac chamber and configured for leadless triggered left-ventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in response to conducted signals from a pulse generator.

Claims

1. A cardiac pacing system comprising a leadless cardiac pacemaker configured for implantation in electrical contact with a left ventricular cardiac chamber of a patient'"'"'s heart and configured for leadless triggered left-ventricular pacing in response to conducted signals from another device and powered by a battery contained within a volume of less than one cubic centimeter.

2. The cardiac pacing system of claim 1 further comprising a pulse generator, two electrodes coupled to the pulse generator and a processor configured to control electrical pulse generation by the pulse generator for delivering a stimulation pulse to a patient through the electrodes and for monitoring the conducted signals on the electrodes.

3. The cardiac pacing system of claim 2 wherein the other device comprises another pacemaker implanted in the patient, the conducted signals comprising triggering information for the leadless cardiac pacemaker transmitted by the other pacemaker.

4. The cardiac pacing system of claim 3 wherein the triggering information comprises a right-ventricular pacing pulse delivered by the other pacemaker to the patient'"'"'s heart.

5. The cardiac pacing system of claim 3 wherein the triggering information comprises an atrial pacing pulse delivered by the other pacemaker to the patient'"'"'s heart.

6. The cardiac pacing system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to monitor conducted signals on the electrodes comprising information selected from a group consisting of pacing rate, pulse duration and sensing threshold.

7. The cardiac pacing system of claim 2 further comprising a hermetic housing, the battery, pulse generator and controller being disposed within the housing.