Ceramic cardiac electrodes

• US 6,968,236 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biophan Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagele, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl
• Application Number:
  US10/058,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119, 607/122, 607/126, 600372-374
• US Class Current: 607/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0565 Electrode heads

Abstract

A cardiac electrode termination pair system that is particularly compatible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures. The electrodes include tip and ring electrodes made of a body-compatible ceramic on which is applied via electroplating, sputtered or the like an ultra-thin conductive coating of platinum or titanium or other suitable metal which is compatible with conducting electrical impulses into cardiac tissue. The ring electrode may be adapted for connection to a photonic catheter carrying light signals or a non-photonic catheter carrying electrical signals. The ring (or the tip) may house pulse-delivering components and/or sensing components.

Claims

1. A cardiac electrode termination pair system, comprising:

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material; and

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring;

said coating layer on said tip being formed on outside and inside surfaces of said bio-compatible ceramic base structure associated therewith;

said coating layer on said ring being formed on outside and inside surfaces of said bio-compatible ceramic base structure associated therewith.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal of low magnetic susceptance.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.

4. A cardiac electrode termination pair system, comprising:

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material; and

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring;

said ceramic base structures of said tip and said ring being separate structures;

said insulative material being a stub separating said tip and said ring.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal of low magnetic susceptance.

6. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.

7. The system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said ring or said tip houses an optical termination and an opto-electrical transducer.

8. A cardiac electrode termination pair system, comprising:

a tip, said tip including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material;

a ring, said ring including a bio-compatible ceramic base structure coated with a layer of electrically conductive material; and

an insulative material disposed between said tip and said ring;

said ceramic base structures of said ring and said tip being integrated as a single ceramic base structure;

said insulative material being an area of said single ceramic base structure.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal of low magnetic susceptance.

10. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said coating layer on said tip and said ring comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, titanium, and alloys thereof.