Implantable cardiac single pass coronary sinus lead for providing pacing and defibrillation and method of manufacture

• US 6,490,489 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Florio, Joseph J., Morgan, Kevin L., Bornzin, Gene A., Helland, John R., Pianca, Anne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/771,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 607/122, 607/123
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A single chronic implantable cardiac lead for use in the coronary sinus region of the heart provides both atrial and ventricular pacing and defibrillation therapy. The lead includes an elongated lead body having a distal end and a proximal end, a first electrode assembly including a ventricular pacing electrode and a ventricular defibrillation at the distal end, a second electrode assembly proximal to the first electrode assembly including at least one atrial pacing electrode and an atrial defibrillation electrode, and a further defibrillation electrode proximal to the second electrode assembly. The electrode assemblies and further defibrillation electrode are spaced apart so that when the lead is implanted within the coronary sinus region of the heart with the first electrode assembly adjacent the left ventricle, the second electrode assembly is adjacent the left atrium and the further defibrillation electrode is within the right atrium and/or the superior vena cava.

Claims

1. A chronic implantable cardiac lead for use in the coronary sinus region of a heart, the lead comprising:

an elongated lead body having a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of terminals at the proximal end of the lead body;

a first electrode assembly including a defibrillation electrode and at least one pacing electrode at the distal end of the lead body;

a second electrode assembly proximal to the first electrode assembly, the second electrode assembly including a defibrillation electrode and art least one pacing electrode;

a further defibrillation electrode proximal to the second electrode assembly; and

a plurality of conductors connecting each electrode to a respective given one of the terminals,

the electrode assemblies and the further defibrillation electrode being spaced apart so that when the lead is implanted in the coronary sinus region of the heart with the first electrode assembly adjacent the left ventricle of the heart, the second electrode assembly is adjacent the left atrium of the heart and the further defibrillation electrode is within the right atrium and/or superior vena cava of the heart;

wherein the defibrillation electrode of one of the first and second electrode assemblies includes a first electrode portion proximal its corresponding at least one pacing electrode and a second electrode portion distal to its corresponding pacing electrode.

2. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrode portions each comprise an electrical coil.

3. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrode portions comprise a first and second respective group of ring electrodes.

4. The cardiac lead of claim 1 wherein the defibrillation electrode of the first electrode assembly includes a first electrode portion proximal its corresponding at least one pacing electrode and a second electrode portion distal to its corresponding pacing electrode.

5. The cardiac lead of claim 4 wherein the first and second electrode portions each comprise an electrical coil.

6. The cardiac lead of claim 4 wherein the first and second electrode portions comprise a first and second respective group of ring electrodes.

7. The cardiac lead of claim 4 wherein the second electrode portion extends adjacent to, or to the distal end of the lead.