Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system

• US 6,778,856 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald, Stuart G., Connelly, Patrick R., Greatbatch, Wilson, Miller, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1-156
• US Class Current: 607/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/288 Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room

Abstract

An electromagnetic immune tissue invasive system includes a primary device housing. The primary device housing having a control circuit therein. A shielding is formed around the primary device housing to shield the primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference. A lead system transmits and receives signals between the primary device housing. The lead system is either a fiber optic system or an electrically shielded electrical lead system.

Claims

1. A cardiac assist system, comprising:

a primary device housing; and

said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;

a fiber optic based communication system to transmit and receive signals between a desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and said primary device housing;

said fiber optic based communication system including a sensing and stimulation system at an epicardial-lead interface with the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region;

said sensing and stimulation system including optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region;

said optical sensing components detecting physiological signals by measuring a displacement of a mirror.

2. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.

3. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a biocompatible material formed on said fiber optic based communication system.

4. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said biocompatible material is a non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible material.

5. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region.

6. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region.

7. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary device housing further includes an electronic signal generator and a controlled laser light pulse generator linked to said electronic signal generator;

said fiber optic based communication system including a fiber optic light pipe for receiving the laser light pulse from said controlled laser light pulse generator at a proximal end of said fiber optic light pipe,

said sensing and stimulation system including a photodiode, coupled to a distal end of said fiber optic light pipe, to convert the laser light pulse back into an electrical pulse and electrically driven cardiac electrodes coupled to said photodiode and the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region.

8. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fiber optic based communication system comprises a photonic cable;

and

said sensing and stimulation system including a light source and a light detector, said light source and said light detector forming an optical sensing component to detect physiological signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region;

said photonic cable receiving signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and delivering signals to the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region.

9. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said light source illuminates the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and said light detector detects properties of the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region by measuring the output of the light signals reflective from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region.

10. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode and said light detector is a photodiode comprising multiple channels.

11. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said multiple channels detect light emission at multiple wavelengths.

12. A cardiac assist system, comprising:

a primary device housing; and

said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;

a fiber optic based communication system to transmit and receive signals between a desired anatomical cardiac tissue region and said primary device housing;

said fiber optic based communication system including a sensing and stimulation system at an epicardial-lead interface with the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region;

said sensing and stimulation system including optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the desired anatomical cardiac tissue region;

said optical sensing components detecting physiological signals by measuring a change in a refractive index of a section of cladding.

13. A tissue invasive device, comprising:

a primary device housing; and

said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;

a fiber optic based communication system to transmit and receive signals between a selected tissue region and said primary device housing;

said fiber optic based communication system including a sensing and stimulation system at an interface with the selected tissue region;

said sensing stimulation system including optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected tissue region;

said optical sensing components detecting physiological signals by measuring a displacement of a mirror.

14. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said fiber optic communication system contains at least one channel within a multi-fiber optic bundle.

15. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a biocompatible material formed on said fiber optic based communication system.

16. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said biocompatible material is a non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible material.

17. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected tissue region.

18. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said sensing and stimulation system includes optical pulsing components to deliver a stimulus of a predetermined duration and power to the selected tissue region.

19. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said primary device housing further includes an electronic signal generator and a controlled laser light pulse generator linked to said electronic signal generator;

said fiber optic based communication system including a fiber optic light pipe for receiving the laser light pulse from said controlled laser light pulse generator at a proximal end of said fiber optic light pipe,

said sensing and stimulation system including a photodiode, coupled to a distal end of said fiber optic light pipe, to convert the laser light pulse back into an electrical pulse and electrically driven cardiac electrodes coupled to said photodiode and the selected tissue region.

20. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said fiber optic based communication system comprises a photonic cable;

and

said sensing and stimulation system including a light source and a light detector, said light source and said light detector forming an optical sensing component to detect physiological signals from the selected tissue region;

said photonic cable receiving signals from the selected tissue region and delivering signals to the selected tissue region.

21. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said light source illuminates the selected tissue region and said light detector detects properties of the selected tissue region by measuring the output of the light signals reflective from the selected tissue region.

22. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said tight source is a light emitting diode and said light detector is a photodiode comprising multiple channels.

23. The tissue invasive device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said multiple channels detect light emission at multiple wavelengths.

24. A tissue invasive device, comprising:

a primary device housing; and

said primary device housing having a control circuit therein;

a fiber optic based communication system to transmit and receive signals between a selected tissue region and said primary device housing;

said fiber optic based communication system including a sensing and stimulation system at an interface with the selected tissue region;

said sensing and stimulation system including optical sensing components to detect physiological signals from the selected tissue region;

said optical sensing components detecting physiological signals by measuring a change in a refractive index of a section of cladding.