Apparatus and method for transmitting an electrical signal in an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- an elongated lead body extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion;
a first electrode and a second electrode positioned along the lead body;
a housing having an upper portion;
a control unit having a housing portion housing electrical components of the implantable medical device and a connector block positioned along an upper portion of the housing, the control unit transmitting a signal between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a connector positioned at the proximal portion of the lead body and insertable within the connector block to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode and the electrical components; and
a third electrode having a conductive element positioned along the control unit in close proximity adjacent to the connector, wherein the control unit determines an alternate transmission path of the signal between the third electrode and one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to the signal not being effectively transmitted between the first electrode and the second electrode as evidence by a sub-threshold amplitude of said signal compared to a predetermined minimum signal threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for transmitting a signal in an implantable medical device that includes a control unit and a first electrode and a second electrode positioned along a lead body. A connector block is positioned along an upper portion of a housing portion of the control unit, and a connector is positioned at a proximal portion of the lead body and is insertable within the connector block. A third electrode having a conductive element is positioned along the control unit in close proximity adjacent to the connector. The control unit transmits a signal between the first electrode and the second electrode and determines an alternate transmission path of the signal between the third electrode and one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to the signal not being effectively transmitted between the first electrode and the second electrode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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an elongated lead body extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion; a first electrode and a second electrode positioned along the lead body; a housing having an upper portion; a control unit having a housing portion housing electrical components of the implantable medical device and a connector block positioned along an upper portion of the housing, the control unit transmitting a signal between the first electrode and the second electrode; a connector positioned at the proximal portion of the lead body and insertable within the connector block to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode and the electrical components; and a third electrode having a conductive element positioned along the control unit in close proximity adjacent to the connector, wherein the control unit determines an alternate transmission path of the signal between the third electrode and one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to the signal not being effectively transmitted between the first electrode and the second electrode as evidence by a sub-threshold amplitude of said signal compared to a predetermined minimum signal threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of transmitting a signal in an implantable medical device to deliver an intended therapy for stimulating a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting the signal between a first electrode and a second electrode; determining whether the intended therapy is successful; in the event that that the intended therapy was not successful, then determining an alternate transmission path between a third electrode positioned in close proximity adjacent to a connector of the implantable medical device and one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode; and transmitting the signal along the alternate transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification