Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system

• US 6,819,958 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Connelly, Patrick R., Miller, Victor, Weiner, Michael L., Helfer, Jeffrey L., MacDoanld, Stuart G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1-156, 600/372-381
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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. An electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system, comprising:

a photonic lead having a proximal end and a distal end;

a light source, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, to produce a first light having a first wavelength;

a wave-guide between the proximal end and distal end of said photonic lead;

a distal sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, to convert the first light into electrical energy and into control signals;

an electrical energy storage device to store electrical energy; and

a control circuit, in response to said control signals, to cause a portion of the stored electrical energy to be delivered to a predetermined tissue region.

2. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is a region of the spinal cord.

3. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is a region of the brain.

4. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is a region associated with a deep brain structure.

5. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is the vagal nerve.

6. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is peripheral nerves that innervate muscles.

7. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is sacral nerve roots to elicit functional contraction of muscles innervated by the sacral nerve roots.

8. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sacral nerve roots are associated with bladder function.

9. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is a region of the cochlea.

10. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is a region of the stomach.

11. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined tissue region is the hypoglossal nerve.

12. An electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive sensing system, comprising:

a photonic lead having a proximal end and a distal end;

a light source, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, to produce a first light having a first wavelength;

a wave-guide between the proximal end and distal end of said photonic lead;

a distal sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, to convert the first light into electrical energy and into control signals;

an electrical energy storage device to store electrical energy; and

a bio-sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead, to sense a characteristic of a predetermined tissue region;

said light source, in the proximal end of said photonic lead, producing a second light having a second wavelength;

said distal sensor, in the distal end of said photonic lead and responsive to said bio-sensor, to reflect the second light back the proximal end of said photonic lead such that a characteristic of the second light is modulated to encode the sensed characteristic of the predetermined tissue region.

13. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is an ECG.

14. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is an esophageal ECG.

15. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is a level of oxygen.

16. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is blood pressure.

17. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is intracranial pressure.

18. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is temperature.

19. The electromagnetic radiation immune tissue invasive stimulation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensed characteristic is an EKG.