System, adaptor and method to provide medical electrical stimulation

• US 5,797,970 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pouvreau, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/708,381
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/9, 607/27, 607/28, 607/29, 607/34, 607/37, 607/116, 607/122, 607/123
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/007 with several outputs only

Abstract

A system for providing medical electrical stimulation, the system features a pulse generator, the pulse generator generating electrical stimulation pulses of a first amplitude and a second amplitude, first and second elongated leads coupled to the pulse generator, a zener diode which directs electrical stimulation pulses of a first amplitude to the first lead and directs electrical stimulation pulses of a second amplitude to the first lead and the second lead, the means for directing electrical stimulation pulses coupled to the pulse generator. In the preferred embodiment the diode is electrically coupled to one of the leads such that electrical stimulation of a first amplitude is not passed through the diode while electrical stimulation of a second amplitude is passed through the diode. Overall the adaptor permits a single channel of stimulation to be split and provided to two areas of the heart merely be adjusting the amplitude of the stimulation pulses.

Claims

1. A system to provide medical electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart comprising:

a pulse generator, the pulse generator generating electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude and a second pacing amplitude;

a first lead coupled to the pulse generator, the first lead having a first lead body, the first lead body having a first distal end, a first electrode located at the first distal end;

a second lead, the second lead having an second lead body, the second lead body having a second distal end, a second electrode located at the second distal end; and

means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude through the first lead to the first electrode and directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing amplitude through the second lead to the first electrode and through the second lead to the second electrode, the means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses coupled to the pulse generator wherein the means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude to the first electrode and directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing amplitude to the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a zener diode electrically coupling the second lead to the pulse generator; and

means for sensing through the second electrode, the means for sensing comprising a capacitor and a resistor coupled to the second lead body in parallel to the zener diode wherein electrical signals present at the second electrode may be conducted through the second lead body to the pulse generator.

2. A system to provide medical electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart according to claim 1 wherein the zener diode has a threshold of no more than the second amplitude.

3. A system to provide medical electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart according to claim 1 wherein the capacitor has a capacitance of 12 nF and the resistor has a resistance of 5 K Ohms.

4. A system to provide medical electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s heart according to claim 1 wherein the means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude to the first electrode and directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing amplitude to the first electrode and the second electrode is an adaptor, the adaptor comprising:

a pulse generator connector coupled to the pulse generator;

an adaptor lead body coupled to the pulse generator connector; and

an adaptor housing coupled to the first lead body, the adaptor housing having a first lead port into which the first lead is coupled and a second lead port into which the second lead is coupled, the adaptor housing having a zener diode electrically coupling the second lead to the pulse generator.

5. An adaptor for directing electrical stimulation pulse from a first lead to both the first lead and a second lead, the adaptor comprising:

means for coupling to a pulse generator;

means for coupling with a first lead and a second lead; and

means for directing pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing energy level to the first lead and directing pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing level to the first lead and the second lead wherein the means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude to the first lead and directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing amplitude to the first lead and the second lead comprises a zener diode electrically coupling the second lead to the pulse generator; and

means for sensing through the second electrode, the means for sensing comprising a capacitor and a resistor coupled to the second lead body in parallel to the zener diode wherein electrical signals present at the second electrode may be conducted through the second lead body to the pulse generator.

6. The adaptor according to claim 5 further comprising an adaptor lead body, the adaptor lead body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the adaptor lead body coupled to the means for coupling to a pulse generator, the second end of the adaptor lead body coupled to the means for coupling with a first lead and a second lead.

7. A method of electrically stimulating either a first chamber of the heart or the first and the second chamber of the heart comprising:

coupling a first lead to the first chamber the first lead having a first electrode;

coupling a second lead to the second chamber, the second lead having a second electrode;

providing means for directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a first pacing amplitude to the first electrode and directing electrical pacing stimulation pulses of a second pacing amplitude to the first electrode and the second electrode;

coupling the first lead and the second lead to the means for directing electrical stimulation pacing pulses;

providing a pulse generator which emits electrical stimulation pacing pulses of a first pacing amplitude and a second pacing amplitude;

coupling the means for directing electrical stimulation pacing pulses to the pulse generator;

emitting electrical stimulation pacing pulses of the first pacing amplitude from the pulse generator;

directing the electrical stimulation pacing pulses of the first pacing amplitude from the pulse generator to the first electrode;

emitting electrical stimulation pacing pulses of the second pacing amplitude from the pulse generator; and

directing the electrical stimulation pacing pulses of the second pacing amplitude from the pulse generator to the first electrode and the second electrode.