Porous electrode for a pacemaker
First Claim
1. A porous electrode for implanting in body tissue, said electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive globules joined together to form a porous mass and defining thereby a plurality of pores throughout the porous mass, the globules being of generally rounded configuration and having a maximum diameter of 40-200 microns;
- andwherein each of the plurality of globules is comprised of a plurality of substantially smaller generally spherically-shaped particles joined together to provide the globules with an irregular relatively large surface area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A porous electrode for pacemakers is comprised of a plurality of platinum globules sintered together to form a porous mass of semi-hemispherical shape at the end of a platinum electrode stem. The globules, which are themselves made by sintering together spherically-shaped particles of approximately one micron diameter, provide the globules with an irregular outer surface of high total surface area. The globules have diameters within a critical range of 40-200 microns. The large total surface area of the globules improves the sensing function of an electrode configuration of given size and surface area, while the globule diameters of 40-200 microns have been found to beneficially accommodate tissue ingrowth within the electrode. In a preferred method of making the electrode, the platinum globules, which are formed by sintering together platinum particles of much smaller size, are mixed with organic solvent and organic binder to form a paste. After application of the paste to the base of an electrode stem and pressing of the paste using a mold so as to form the paste into the desired semi-hemispherical shape, the electrode is heated to evaporate the organic solvent, and the electrode is then placed in a sintering furnace to sinter together the platinum globules and form the completed electrode.
98 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A porous electrode for implanting in body tissue, said electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive globules joined together to form a porous mass and defining thereby a plurality of pores throughout the porous mass, the globules being of generally rounded configuration and having a maximum diameter of 40-200 microns;
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wherein each of the plurality of globules is comprised of a plurality of substantially smaller generally spherically-shaped particles joined together to provide the globules with an irregular relatively large surface area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A porous electrode for implanting in body tissue, comprising the combination of an electrically conductive electrode stem of generally cylindrical configuration having an electrode base at an end thereof and a plurality of electrically conductive globules mounted on the electrode base and joined together to form a generally hemispherical configuration, the globules being generally rounded and having a maximum dimension of 40-200 microns;
- and
wherein the electrode stem is made of platinum and the globules are sintered together, and wherein each of the globules is comprised of a plurality of sintered-together generally rounded spheres, each sphere having a nominal diameter of about 1 micron, for providing a globule with an irregular outer surface of substantial area. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An electrode having a porous tip, the tip comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive globules joined together to form a porous mass, the globules comprised of a plurality of joined-together particles, the particles being relatively and substantially smaller than the globules. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification