High impedance, low polarization, low threshold miniature steriod eluting pacing lead electrodes
First Claim
1. A body implantable lead for stimulation and sensing of a desired body tissue site, comprising:
- a. an electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end;
b. insulating sheath means for covering said conductor between said proximal and distal ends thereof;
c. electrical connector means coupled to said proximal end of said conductor for electrically connecting said lead to a pulse generator;
d. electrode means electrically coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor for conducting electrical energy to and from said body tissue site desired to be stimulated and sensed, said electrode means having an exposed macroscopic surface area of less than 3.0 mm2 exposed to body fluids and tissue;
e. wherein said electrode means comprises a body of a porous metallic or other conductive material with high microscopic surface area in proportion to said exposed macroscopic surface area, mounted to a distal end of a conductive pin and extending radially from said conductive pin, a proximal end of said pin being coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor; and
f. drug dispensing means mounted around said pin, proximal to said porous body, for storing a drug to be dispensed while allowing dispensing of said drug, through said porous body, to counter undesirable interactions between said lead and said body site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A small diameter, unipolar or bipolar, atrial or ventricular transvenous or epimyocardial pacing lead with a porous, platinized, steroid eluting cathode electrode exhibiting an effective surface area in the range of 0.1 to 4.0 mm2, preferably 0.6 to 3.0 mm2, provides low stimulation thresholds in the range of 0.5 volts, 0.5 milliseconds, very high pacing impedance (800 to 2,000 Ω), relatively low polarization, good to excellent sensing, and adequately low source impedance. The high pacing impedance prolongs the longevity of pacing pulse generators and allows for the miniaturization of their components. The low thresholds allow large safety factors at low applied voltages, which also contribute to increased battery longevity.
199 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A body implantable lead for stimulation and sensing of a desired body tissue site, comprising:
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a. an electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end; b. insulating sheath means for covering said conductor between said proximal and distal ends thereof; c. electrical connector means coupled to said proximal end of said conductor for electrically connecting said lead to a pulse generator; d. electrode means electrically coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor for conducting electrical energy to and from said body tissue site desired to be stimulated and sensed, said electrode means having an exposed macroscopic surface area of less than 3.0 mm2 exposed to body fluids and tissue; e. wherein said electrode means comprises a body of a porous metallic or other conductive material with high microscopic surface area in proportion to said exposed macroscopic surface area, mounted to a distal end of a conductive pin and extending radially from said conductive pin, a proximal end of said pin being coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor; and f. drug dispensing means mounted around said pin, proximal to said porous body, for storing a drug to be dispensed while allowing dispensing of said drug, through said porous body, to counter undesirable interactions between said lead and said body site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lead for body implantation within a patient for stimulation and sensing of a desired cardiac tissue site, said lead having an electrode of differential current density type, comprising:
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a. an electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end; b. electrical connector means coupled to the proximal end of said conductor for electrically connecting said lead to a cardiac pulse generator; c. electrode means coupled to said distal end of said conductor for conducting electrical energy to and from said cardiac tissue site; d. insulating sheath means for covering and electrically insulating said electrical conductor from body fluids and tissue extending between said electrode means and said electrical connector means; e. insulating body means coupled of the distal end of said insulating sheath means, said insulating body means having a wall spaced apart from and extending around said electrode means to prevent said electrode means from directly contacting said tissue site and thereby defining an electrode chamber, said wall further including an aperture provided therein for allowing body fluid ingress within said chamber and to said electrode means; f. wherein said electrode chamber aperture is in the range of 0.1 to 3.0 mm2 in area; and g. drug dispensing means carried adjacent the insulating body means for storing a drug to be dispensed while allowing dispensing of said drug within said chamber when wetted by the ingress of body fluids, such that said drug elutes through said chamber aperture, thereby countering undesirable interactions between said lead and said body site. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A body implantable lead, comprising:
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a. an electrical conductor having a proximal end and a distal end; b. insulating sheath means for covering said conductor between said proximal and distal ends thereof; c. electrical connector means coupled to said proximal end of said conductor for electrically connecting said lead to a pulse generator; d. electrode means electrically coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor for conducting electrical energy to and from said body tissue site desired to be stimulated and sensed, said electrode means comprising a body of a porous metallic or other conductive material with high microscopic surface area in proportion to macroscopic surface area, mounted to a distal end of a conductive pin and extending radially from said conductive pin, a proximal end of said pin being coupled to said distal end of said electrical conductor; and e. drug dispensing means mounted around said pin, proximal to said porous body, within said insulating sheath, for storing a drug to be dispensed while allowing dispensing of said drug through said porous body to counter undesirable interactions between said lead and said body site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification