Single pass medical electrical lead

• US 5,995,876 A
• Filed: 02/03/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lokhoff, Nicolaas, Kruse, Ib M., van Venrooij, Paulus, Bakels, Arnoldus
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/794,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119-130, 600/373-375, 600/381, 600/382
• US Class Current: 607/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a single pass medical electrical lead. In one embodiment, the lead feature a pair of bipolar electrodes positioned along the lead body so that they are positioned in the ventricle and atrium respectively when the lead is implanted. The lead body features a 90 degree bent reinforced section. The bend has a radius of curvature approximately 13 mm and begins approximately 90 mm from the distal end. This curved section is approximately 40 mm in length when straightened. The ventricular electrodes are positioned approximately 28 mm apart. The ventricular cathode electrode is positioned at the distal end of the lead. The atrial electrodes are positioned approximately between 5-35 mm apart, with 28 mm preferred. The atrial anode is located at a position immediately adjacent and proximal the 90 degree bent reinforced section.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead comprising:

a lead body having a relatively straight first section and a relatively straight second section, said relatively straight first section connected to said relatively straight second section by a third section having a bend, said third section is less flexible than either said first section or said second section, the lead body having a first conductor and a second conductor, the first electrode coupled to the first conductor, the second electrode coupled to the second conductor,

a first electrode positioned on said third section; and

a second electrode positioned on said second section.

2. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein said first electrode comprises a bipolar electrode.

3. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein the said second electrode comprises a bipolar electrode.

4. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein the radius of said bend is between 12.5 mm-13.5 mm.

5. The medical electrical lead according to claim 4 wherein the radius of said bend is 13 mm.

6. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein said second section is less flexible than said first section.

7. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein said bend is between 135 and 45 degrees.

8. The medical electrical lead according to claim 7 wherein said bend is 90 degrees.

9. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein said bend is between 135 and 45 degrees along a first plane and between 5-90 degrees in a second plane.

10. The medical electrical lead according to claim 1 wherein said second section has means for fixing said lead.

11. The medical electrical lead according to claim 10 wherein said means for fixing comprise tines.

12. The medical electrical lead according to claim 10 wherein the said first electrode is conductive alone substantially only a first direction.

13. A body-implantable medical electrical lead comprising:

a lead body having a straight distal section, an intermediate section and a straight proximal section, said proximal section more flexible than said distal section, said distal section being more flexible than said intermediate section, the lead body having a first conductor and a second conductor, the first electrode coupled to the first conductor, the second electrode coupled to the second conductor;

a first electrode positioned on said intermediate section, and

a second electrode positioned on said distal section.

14. The medical electrical lead according to claim 13 wherein said intermediate section has a bend.

15. The medical electrical lead according to claim 13 wherein said bend is between 135 and 45 degrees.

16. The medical electrical lead according to claim 15 wherein said bend is 90 degrees.

17. The medical electrical lead according to claim 14 wherein said bend on intermediate section is on a curved portion, said intermediate section further having a proximal straight leg portion attached to a proximal end of said curved portion and a distal straight leg portion attached to a distal end of said curved portion.

18. The medical electrical lead according to claim 17 wherein said first electrode is positioned on said proximal straight leg section of said curved portion.

19. The medical electrical lead according to claim 18 wherein said atrial electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode.

20. The medical electrical lead according to claim 19 wherein said first electrode has a porous platinized surface.

21. A lead in accordance with claim 19 wherein the first electrode has a monolithic controlled release device.

22. An electrode assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein the atrial electrode has a drug-elution port.

24. The medical electrical lead according to claim 19 wherein the first section is between 302-327 mm.

25. The medical electrical lead according to claim 19 wherein the second section is approximately 90 mm.

26. The medical electrical lead according to claim 19 wherein the bend of the third section is between 12.5 mm-13.5 mm.

27. The medical electrical lead according to claim 26 wherein the radius of said bend is 13 mm.

23. A medical electrical lead comprising:

a lead body having a relatively straight first section and a relatively straight second section, said relatively straight first section connected to said relatively straight second section by a third section, said third section is less flexible than either said first section or said second section;

said third section having a straight proximal section, a bent middle section and a straight distal section, the lead body having a first conductor and a second conductor, the first electrode coupled to the first conductor, the second electrode coupled to the second conductor;

a first electrode positioned on said straight proximal section; and

a second electrode positioned on said second section.

28. The medical electrical lead according to claim 23 wherein said bend is between 135 and 45 degrees.

29. The medical electrical lead according to claim 28 wherein said bend is 90 degrees.

30. The medical electrical lead according to claim 23 wherein the straight proximal section of the third section is 38.5 mm-39.5 mm.

31. The medical electrical lead according to claim 23 wherein the straight distal section of the third section is 9.5 mm-10.5 mm.

32. The medical electrical lead according to claim 23 wherein said second section is less flexible than said first section.