Connection verification apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 7,076,302 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Scheiner, Avram
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/269,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 607/27, 607/28
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management apparatus and system may include a first contact to provide a connection signal, a second contact to sense a corresponding connection signal using a lead and an electrode coupled to the second contact, a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and second contacts to measure a characteristic associated with the connection signal, a comparison module to determine whether the lead is of a preselected type, and an indicator module to indicate the comparison result. An article may cause a machine to implement a method which includes providing a connection signal from one contact, measuring a characteristic associated with a corresponding connection signal at another contact, and comparing the characteristic with a range of values to determine a comparison result. The method may also include indicating and recording the comparison result.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first contact;

a second contact;

a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and the second contacts and measuring a first characteristic of a first corresponding connection signal propagated through a first lead coupled to the second contact;

a comparison module to determine whether the first lead is a first preselected lead type based on the first characteristic and to provide a comparison result;

an indicator module to indicate the comparison result; and

a third contact to sense a second corresponding connection signal using a second electrode coupled to the third contact with a second lead, wherein the measurement module is capable of being communicatively coupled to the third contact to measure a second characteristic associated with the second corresponding connection signal, wherein the comparison module is to determine whether the second lead is a second preselected lead type based on the second characteristic, and wherein the second characteristic is a conduction response time between the first and second electrodes.

2. A system, comprising:

an apparatus, including a first contact to provide a connection signal, a second contact to sense a first corresponding connection signal using a first electrode coupled to the second contact, a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and the second contacts and to measure a first characteristic associated with a first corresponding connection signal propagated through a first lead coupled to the second contact, a comparison module to determine whether the first lead is a first preselected lead type based on the first characteristic and to provide a comparison result, and an indicator module to indicate the comparison result;

a processor capable of receiving the comparison result; and

a third contact included in a port to sense a second corresponding connection signal using a second electrode coupled to the third contact with a second lead, wherein the second contact is included in the port, wherein the measurement module is capable of being communicatively coupled to the third contact to measure a second characteristic associated with the second corresponding connection signal, and wherein the comparison module is to determine whether the second lead is a second preselected lead type based on the second characteristic.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second characteristic is a conduction response time between the first and second electrodes of about 50 milliseconds to about 250 milliseconds.

4. A system, comprising:

an apparatus, including a first contact to provide a connection signal, a second contact to sense a first corresponding connection signal using a first electrode coupled to the second contact, a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and the second contacts and to measure a first characteristic associated with a first corresponding connection signal propagated through a first lead coupled to the second contact, a comparison module to determine whether the first lead is a first preselected lead type based on the first characteristic and to provide a comparison result, and an indicator module to indicate the comparison result; and

a processor capable of receiving the comparison result, wherein the first characteristic is an impedance associated with a measured voltage of about 0.5 volts to about 10.0 volts.

5. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

providing a connection signal using a first contact;

measuring a first characteristic associated with a corresponding connection signal at a second contact connected to an electrode using a first coronary lead;

determining whether the lead is a preselected lead type;

indicating whether the lead is the preselected lead type;

providing the connection signal using the second contact;

measuring a second characteristic associated with a corresponding connection signal at a third contact connected to an other electrode using a second coronary lead;

determining whether the second coronary lead is a second preselected lead type; and

indicating whether the second coronary lead is the second preselected lead type.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein the first contact is coupled to a pacer can electrode, wherein the second contact is coupled to an atrial ring electrode, wherein the third contact is coupled to an atrial tip electrode, and wherein measuring a second characteristic associated with the corresponding connection signal at the third contact further comprises:

measuring a voltage between the atrial tip electrode and the pacer can electrode after injecting a current between the atrial ring electrode and the pacer can electrode.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a first contact;

a second contact;

a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and the second contacts and measuring a characteristic of a corresponding connection signal propagated through a lead coupled to the second contact, wherein the characteristic comprises a conduction response time between electrodes;

a comparison module to determine whether the lead is a preselected lead type based on the characteristic and to provide a comparison result; and

an indicator module to indicate the comparison result.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first contact is coupled to a pacer can electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corresponding connection signal comprises a current.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the characteristic comprises an impedance.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising:

a database module having a preselected range of values corresponding to the preselected lead type.

12. A system, comprising:

an apparatus, including a first contact, a second contact, a measurement module capable of being communicatively coupled to the first and the second contacts and measuring a characteristic of a corresponding connection signal propagated through a lead coupled to the second contact, wherein the characteristic comprises a conduction response time between electrodes, a comparison module to determine whether the lead is a preselected lead type based on the characteristic and to provide a comparison result, and an indicator module to indicate the comparison result; and

a processor capable of receiving the comparison result.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first contact is coupled to a pacer header electrode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the conduction response time is about 50 milliseconds to about 250 milliseconds.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a current injection device capable of being communicatively coupled to the processor.

16. A method, comprising:

connecting a first electrode to a second contact using a lead;

providing a connection signal using a first contact;

measuring a characteristic associated with a corresponding connection signal arising from the connection signal at the second contact, wherein the characteristic comprises a conduction response time between the first electrode and a second electrode; and

determining whether the lead is a preselected lead type based on the characteristic to provide a comparison result.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein connecting the first electrode to the second contact using a lead comprises:

connecting a cardiac pacing lead including the first electrode to the second contact.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

indicating the comparison result.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising:

recording the comparison result.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the comparison result comprises an indication that the first electrode is connected to the second contact using the preselected lead type.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the comparison result comprises an indication that the first electrode is connected to the second contact using a lead type other than the preselected lead type.