Apparatus for improved cardiac pacing and sensing using extracardiac indifferent electrode configurations
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing electrical heart signals and for applying a pacing signal across the heart muscle of a person, said apparatus comprising:
- a pacemaker constructed to be implanted adjacent a pectoral muscle mass of said person;
a first intracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first intracardiac electrode positioned in a predetermined chamber of the heart; and
a first extracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first indifferent electrode thereon, said first extracardiac catheter having a length which enables said indifferent electrode to be positioned subcutaneously on said person at a location which is remote from said pectoral muscle mass to reduce myopotential sensing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved extracardiac indifferent electrode configuration for implantable medical devices that overcomes the deficiencies of known unipolar and bipolar cardiac sensing and pacing systems. In particular, the present invention provides an indifferent electrode configuration wherein a subcutaneous extracardiac electrode is advantageously positioned so as to provide a truly indifferent return or reference electrode that does not inadvertently stimulate torso muscle and is not subject to detecting myopotentials generated by adjacent torso muscle. In addition, by being placed outside the heart, the indifferent electrode allows the intracardiac catheter to maintain a low profile, i.e., allows the catheter to be as small as possible, and does not generate metallic ions or cause degradation of catheter materials by generating such ions.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing electrical heart signals and for applying a pacing signal across the heart muscle of a person, said apparatus comprising:
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a pacemaker constructed to be implanted adjacent a pectoral muscle mass of said person; a first intracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first intracardiac electrode positioned in a predetermined chamber of the heart; and a first extracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first indifferent electrode thereon, said first extracardiac catheter having a length which enables said indifferent electrode to be positioned subcutaneously on said person at a location which is remote from said pectoral muscle mass to reduce myopotential sensing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for sensing electrical heart signals and for applying a pacing signal across the heart muscle of a person, said apparatus comprising:
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a pacemaker constructed to be implanted in said person; a first intracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first intracardiac electrode positioned in a predetermined chamber of the heart; and a first extracardiac catheter connected to said pacemaker and including a first indifferent electrode thereon, said first extracardiac catheter having a length which enables said indifferent electrode to be positioned subcutaneously on said person at a location which is remote from said pacemaker and reduces myopotential sensing. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification