Pacemaker

• US 5,243,977 A
• Filed: 06/26/1991
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hector O. Trabucco, Jordan Gavrielides
• Original Assignee: Hector O. Trabucco, Jordan Gavrielides
• Inventors: Trabucco, Hector O., Gavrielides, Jordan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US07/721,284
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P
• US Class Current: 607/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

The pacemaker includes a casing housing a pulse generator having at least one electrode tip preferably projecting out of said casing and being insulated therefrom, whereby no plug-receptacle nor electrode catheter is required. The pacemaker is to be surgically located below the heart in the virtual cavity formed between the epicardium and the pericardium with its electrode tip in close contact with the epicardium of the heart.

Claims

1. A pacemaker usable to stimulate an organ such as the heart comprising a suture-free casing housing a pulse generator connected to at least one electrode tip forming part of the outer surface of said casing and being electrically insulated therefrom, said electrode tip comprising means for directly entering into non-perforating contact with the epicardium of the heart without piercing the epicardium.

2. The pacemaker of claim 1, said casing having an upper outer surface including at least one opening wherein an electricity insulating socket is sealingly housed, said electrode tip projecting out of said upper outer surface through said socket.

3. The pacemaker of claim 2 wherein said socket is provided with means for remote controllable release of biomedical materials.

4. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein the upper outer surface includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, each housing a socket and an electrode tip.

5. The pacemaker of claim 4, wherein each electrode tip is independently excitable.

6. The pacemaker of claim 4, wherein said electrode tips are successively excitable with different outputs.

7. The pacemaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing thereof is provided with anchoring means.

8. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said casing is provided with signal means enabling to trace said pacemaker upon being surrounded by fibrous tissues.

9. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said casing has a pointed front end portion to facilitate the slipping-in of said pacemaker into the pericardial sac of the heart.

10. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said casing includes a projecting, bendable nose portion, housing said electrode tip.

11. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said casing is biconcavely shaped.

12. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said casing has a net-like anchoring structure.

13. The pacemaker of claim 1, wherein said electrode tip is surrounded by a compressible sponge-like material.

14. A method of direct contact implanting of a pacemaker onto the epicardium outer surface of a heart of a human patient, said pacemaker comprising a casing housing a pulse generator connected to at least one electrode tip forming part of the outer surface of said casing and being electrically insulated therefrom, said electrode tip comprising means for directly entering into non-perforating contact with the epicardium of the heart, said method comprising the steps of providing access to the patient'"'"'s pericardium by a subxiphoid abdominal approach which comprises opening said pericardium to gain access to the pericardial sac, slipping said pacemaker into the cavity existing between the inner surface of said pericardium and the outer surface of said epicardium so that said pacemaker is located at the lower portion of the pericardial sac and is in contact with said heart, establishing a good electric contact with the epicardium and thereafter closing the opening in said pericardium.