Combined mapping, pacing, and defibrillating catheter

• US 5,405,375 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: InControl, Inc. (Daikin Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Smith, Joseph M., Ayers, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US08/184,375
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 607/122, 607/37, 607/38, 607/148, 607/123, 607/124-128, 607/133, 128/642
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion

Abstract

A catheter insertable into a body provides for both sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart and defibrillating the heart when defibrillation is required. The catheter includes a plurality of connectors at the proximal end and a plurality of electrodes disposed along the catheter at the distal end. The plurality of electrodes includes a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes. The first plurality of electrodes are coupled together and to a given one of the plurality of connectors. Each of the second plurality of electrodes is coupled to a respective different one of the plurality of connectors. The first plurality of electrodes provide for defibrillating the heart and the second plurality of electrodes provide for sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart.

Claims

1. A catheter insertable into a body for both defibrillating a heart and sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart, said catheter including a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:

a plurality of connectors at said proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along said catheter at said distal end, said plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes, said first plurality of electrodes being coupled together to a given one of said plurality of connectors, each said electrode of said second plurality of electrodes being coupled to a respective different one of said plurality of connectors, said first plurality of electrodes for defibrillating the heart, and said second plurality of electrodes for sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart, wherein each one of said first plurality of electrodes has a surface area, wherein each one of said second plurality of electrodes has a surface area, and wherein the surface area of at least one of said first plurality of electrodes is greater than twice the surface area of at least one of said second plurality of electrodes.

2. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said lead has a generally cylindrical surface and wherein said second plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode group including a plurality of discrete electrodes disposed in non-touching relation circumferentially about said cylindrical surface.

3. A catheter as defined in claim 2 wherein said discrete electrodes of said electrode group are in axially aligned relation about said cylindrical surface.

4. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one of said second plurality of electrodes is more distal on said catheter than any other of said electrodes.

5. A catheter as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrodes of said first plurality of electrodes are interspersed with the electrodes of said second plurality of electrodes along said catheter.

6. A catheter insertable into a body for both defibrillating a heart and sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart, said catheter including a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:

a plurality of connectors at said proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along said catheter at said distal end, said plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes, said first plurality of electrodes being coupled together to a given one of said plurality of connectors, each said electrode of said second plurality of electrodes being coupled to a respective different one of said plurality of connectors, said first plurality of electrodes for defibrillating the heart, and said second plurality of electrodes for sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart, wherein each one of said first plurality of electrodes has a surface area, wherein each one of said second plurality of electrodes has a surface area, and wherein the surface area of each one of said first plurality of electrodes is greater than twice the surface area of each one of said second plurality of electrodes.

7. A catheter as defined in claim 6 wherein said second plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode pair including two immediately adjacent electrodes.

8. A catheter as defined in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of electrodes includes a plurality of said electrode pairs.

9. A catheter as defined in claim 8 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of electrodes are disposed between said electrode pairs.

10. A catheter as defined in claim 9 wherein a plurality of said first plurality of electrodes are immediately adjacent to each other.

11. A catheter insertable into a body for both defibrillating a heart and sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart, said catheter including a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:

a plurality of connectors at said proximal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along said catheter at said distal end, said plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes, said first plurality of electrodes being coupled together to a given one of said plurality of connectors, each said electrode of said second plurality of electrodes being coupled to a respective different one of said plurality of connectors, said first plurality of electrodes for defibrillating the heart, and said second plurality of electrodes for sensing electrical activity of the heart at localized locations of the heart,

wherein said lead has a generally cylindrical surface and wherein said second plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode group including a plurality of electrodes disposed in aligned non-touching relation about said cylindrical surface, and

wherein said second plurality of electrodes include a plurality of said electrode groups.

12. A catheter as defined in claim 11 wherein each said electrode group includes four electrodes.

13. A catheter as defined in claim 12 wherein said four electrodes of each said electrode group are equally spaced about said cylindrical surface.

14. A catheter as defined in claim 11 wherein selected pairs of said first plurality of electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of said electrode groups.

15. A catheter as defined in claim 14 wherein a plurality of said first plurality of electrodes are immediately adjacent to each other.