Pacemaker housing

• US 5,895,414 A
• Filed: 04/10/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano
• Original Assignee: Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano
• Inventors: Sanchez-Zambrano, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/872,200
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 607/36, 607/9, 607/37
• US Class Current: 607/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

A pacemaker for providing electrical pulses for a heart has an anatomically-shaped housing. The housing has a concave inner wall and a convex outer wall, which are spaced apart and joined at the periphery. The periphery is elliptical and rounded. The electronics locate within a cavity between the inner and outer walls. An electrical wire extends upward directly above a center of gravity of the housing for connection to the heart. An aperture is located above the center of gravity for suturing to tissue of the patient.

Claims

1. A pacemaker for implanting outside of a ribcage of a patient for providing electrical pulses for a heart, comprising:

a housing with a generally concave inner wall having a generally elliptical periphery;

the housing having a generally convex outer wall spaced outward from the inner wall, the outer wall having a generally elliptical periphery which joins the periphery of the inner wall to define a cavity for an electrical circuit;

at least one electrical wire extending from the cavity out an upper edge of the housing for attachment to the heart; and

an aperture positioned adjacent the upper edge of the housing for suturing the housing to tissue.

2. The pacemaker according to claim 1 wherein the

aperture is positioned on a vertical line extending above a center of gravity of the housing.

3. The pacemaker according to claim 1 wherein the wire extends upward from the housing from a point that is generally vertically above a center of gravity of the housing.

4. A pacemaker for implanting outside of a ribcage of a patient for providing electrical pulses for a heart, comprising:

a housing with a generally concave inner wall having a generally elliptical periphery;

the housing having a generally convex outer wall spaced outward from and generally parallel to the inner wall, the outer wall having a generally elliptical periphery which joins the periphery of the inner wall to define a cavity for an electrical circuit;

at least one electrical wire extending from the cavity out an upper edge of the housing for attachment to the heart; and

an aperture positioned adjacent the upper edge of the housing on a vertical line that passes generally through a center of gravity of the housing for suturing the housing to tissue to hold the housing in place.

5. The pacemaker according to claim 4 wherein the wire extends upward from the housing from a point that is generally vertically above a center of gravity of the housing.

6. A method for installing a pacemaker outside of a ribcage of a patient for providing electrical pulses for a heart, comprising:

providing a housing with a generally concave inner wall having a generally elliptical periphery, a generally convex outer wall spaced outward from and generally parallel to the inner wall, the outer wall having a generally elliptical periphery which joins the periphery of the inner wall to define a cavity which contains an electrical circuit, and at least one electrical wire extending from the cavity adjacent the periphery;

providing the housing with at least one aperture positioned adjacent the periphery;

implanting the pacemaker between a patient'"'"'s skin and ribcage and connecting the wire to the patient'"'"'s heart; and

suturing the housing to tissue of the patient by passing surgical thread through the aperture.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the housing with at least one aperture comprises placing the aperture adjacent an upper edge of the housing.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the housing with at least one electrical wire comprises extending the wire from an upper edge of the housing to facilitate placing the pacemaker either on a right side or a left side of the patient.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the housing with at least one aperture comprises placing the aperture adjacent an upper edge of the housing substantially on a vertical line extending upward from a center of gravity of the pacemaker.