Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system

• US 6,954,674 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Connelly, Patrick R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1-156
• US Class Current: 607/63
• 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 having a first control circuit, therein, to perform synchronous cardiac assist operations;

a first shielding formed around said primary device housing to shield said primary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference;

a first biocompatible material formed around said first shielding;

a secondary device housing having a second control circuit, therein, to perform asynchronous cardiac assist operations;

a second shielding formed around said secondary device housing to shield said secondary device housing and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference;

a second biocompatible material formed around said second shielding; and

a detection circuit, communicatively coupled to said first and second control circuits, to detect an electromagnetic interference insult upon the cardiac assist system;

said first control circuit terminating synchronous cardiac assist operations and said second control circuit initiating asynchronous cardiac assist operations upon detection of the electromagnetic interference insult by said detection system.

2. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second shielding are metallic sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

3. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second shielding are carbon composite sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

4. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second shielding are polymer composite sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

5. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second biocompatible materials are non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible materials.

6. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shielding is metallic sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

7. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shielding is carbon composite sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

8. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shielding is polymer composite sheaths to shield said primary and secondary device housings and any circuits therein from electromagnetic interference.

9. A cardiac assist system for implanting in a body of a patient, the cardiac assist system comprising:

a main module;

a first shielding formed around said main module to shield said main module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference;

a first biocompatible material formed around said first shielding;

a magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module;

a second shielding formed around said magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module to shield said magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference;

a second biocompatible material formed around said second shielding;

a communication channel between said main module and said magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module for said magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module to detect failure of said main module; and

a controller for activating said magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary module upon detection of failure of said main module.

10. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second shieldings are metallic sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

11. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second shieldings are carbon composite sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

12. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second shieldings are polymer composite sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

13. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second biocompatible materials are non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible materials.

14. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first shielding is metallic sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

15. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first shielding is carbon composite sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

16. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second shielding is polymer composite sheaths to shield said main and magnetic-resonance imaging-immune auxiliary modules and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

17. A cardiac assist system for implanting in the body of a patient, the cardiac assist system comprising:

a main module;

a first biocompatible material formed around said main module;

an magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module;

a shielding formed around said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module to shield said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference;

a second biocompatible material formed around said second shielding; and

a communication channel between said main module and said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module;

said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module detecting, through said communication channel, failure of said main module;

said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module including a controller for activating said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module upon detection of failure of said main module.

18. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said shielding is a metallic sheath to shield said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

19. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said shielding is a carbon composite sheath to shield said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

20. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said shielding is a polymer composite sheath to shield said magnetic-resonance imaging-hardened auxiliary module and any circuits therein from magnetic-resonance imaging interference.

21. The cardiac assist system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first and second biocompatible materials are non-permeable diffusion resistant biocompatible materials.