PACING CATHETER WITH FRICTIONAL FIT LEAD ATTACHMENT

• US 3,769,984 A
• Filed: 03/11/1971
• Issued: 11/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lloyd D. Muench
• Inventors: Muench, Lloyd D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/123,242
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 128/404,418,419P,2.7S
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

A device for transvenous insertion such as for use in connection with transmitting electrical pulses in a heart pacer. The device comprises a catheter having highly flexible electrical conductors spaced apart therein connected to a pair of spaced electrodes at the distal end for delivering a pacing signal. The conductors are formed of stranded tantalum filaments of extremely small crosssection. The catheter may include an axial lumen through which blood pressure measurements may be taken as well as permitting extension of guide wires therethrough for guiding the catheter as during venous insertion. The device may comprise an extruded plastic element with the conductor wires being coextruded therein for facilitated manufacture.

Claims

1. A transvenous pacing catheter comprising an elongate element formed of a flexible, electrically insulating material suitable for transvenous insertion, a tubular metal member surrounding a distal end portion of said element in tight frictional engagement, a tubular electrode surrounding said metal member in generally concentric relation therewith, and a stranded bundle of metal filaments each having a diameter under approximately 50 microns and defining an electrical conductor embedded in said element and extending from a proximal end portion toward the distal end portion thereof, said conductor having a distal end portion emerging from said element and extending between said metal member and said electrode in tight frictional engagement therebetween to provide a current conductive connection between said electrode and the proximal end portion of said conductor.

2. The transvenous pacing catheter of claim 1 wherein said metal member has a radially inwardly deformed portion receiving the distal end portion of said conductor.

3. The transvenous pacing catheter according to claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of said conductor emerges from said element at a location distally of said metal member and extends toward the proximal end portion of said element.

4. The transvenous pacing catheter of claim 1 further including a second tubular metal member surrounding the distal end portion of said element in tight frictional engagement and in axially spaced relation from said electrode, a second electrode having a tubular portion surrounding said second metal member in generally concentric relation therewith, and a second stranded bundle of metal filaments each having a diameter under approximately 50 microns and defining a second electrical conductor embedded in said element and extending from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion thereof, said second conductor emerging from said element and extending between said second metal member and said tubular portion of said second electrode in tight frictional engagement therebetween to provide a current conductive connection between said second electrode and the proximal end portion of said second conductor.

5. The transvenous pacing catheter of claim 4 wherein the distal end portion of said second conductor emerges from said element at a location distally of said second metal member and extends toward the proximal end of said element.

6. The transvenous pacing catheter of claim 5 wherein said second electrode is generally cup-shaped with an outer substantially rounded distal end defining the distal tip of the catheter.