Extracorporeal Unit for Inspecting the Insulation of an Electrical Wire of an Implanted Medical Device
First Claim
1. A system for testing the electrical integrity of an elongated lead when the lead is used with an implanted electronic device to stimulate/control heart muscle activity of a patient, wherein the elongated lead defines an axis and has insulated electrode wires extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the lead to establish an electrical connection between the electronic device and the heart muscle of the patient, the system comprising:
- a monitor selectively connected to the proximal end of the lead for monitoring electrical activity in the lead;
an electrically conductive solution positioned to surround at least a portion of said lead; and
a voltage source having a cathode and an anode, the anode and cathode positioned to establish an electrical current through the solution and cause an interrupt signal that is received by the monitor when there is a break in the insulation of the lead.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for testing the electrical integrity of an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator lead. The system includes a container holding an electrically conductive solution, such as a saline solution. A voltage source and two electrodes are provided to pass an electrical current through the solution. To use the system, the proximal end of the electrical lead is disconnected from the implanted electronic device, passed through the saline solution and then electrically connected to a device/monitor. During testing, the device/monitor sends a test pulse through the lead and monitors electrical activity in the lead. To test sequential locations along the length of the proximal segment, the segment is drawn through the saline solution and between the electrodes while test pulses are sent and monitored. The monitor detects abnormal electrical activity in the lead indicative of a break in lead insulation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for testing the electrical integrity of an elongated lead when the lead is used with an implanted electronic device to stimulate/control heart muscle activity of a patient, wherein the elongated lead defines an axis and has insulated electrode wires extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the lead to establish an electrical connection between the electronic device and the heart muscle of the patient, the system comprising:
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a monitor selectively connected to the proximal end of the lead for monitoring electrical activity in the lead; an electrically conductive solution positioned to surround at least a portion of said lead; and a voltage source having a cathode and an anode, the anode and cathode positioned to establish an electrical current through the solution and cause an interrupt signal that is received by the monitor when there is a break in the insulation of the lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for testing the integrity of insulation in a proximal segment of an electrical lead while a distal segment of the lead remains attached to a patient'"'"'s heart, the system comprising:
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a voltage source having a cathode and an anode; an electrically conductive fluid surrounding at least a portion of the proximal segment of the lead, the fluid electrically connected to the cathode and anode to establish an electrical current through the fluid; and a monitoring circuit connected to the lead and configured to output an alarm signal in response to an input from the lead indicating that the current in the fluid is generating an interrupt signal in the lead due to an insulation breach. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for testing the integrity of insulation in a proximal segment of an electrical lead while a distal segment of the lead remains attached to a patients heart, the method comprising the steps of:
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surrounding at least a portion of the proximal segment of the lead with an electrically conductive fluid; passing an electrical current through the fluid; monitoring an output from the lead; and generating an alarm signal in response to an input from the lead indicating that the current in the fluid is generating an interrupt signal in the lead due to an insulation breach. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification