Anti-coagulation and demineralization system for conductive medical devices

• US 7,167,746 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pederson, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/889,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/62, 607/1, 607/2, 607/9, 607/50, 607/115, 604/507
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

A system for minimizing and/or eliminating coagulative or mineral deposits on respective blood-contacting surfaces of implanted medical devices includes an implantable system having a current generating device that is electrically coupled to at least first and second electrodes for developing a current therebetween. The at least first and second electrodes are disposed across a patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity in a manner so that a particular implanted medical device having at least a portion thereof that is fabricated from an electrically conductive material is disposed in a path substantially between such electrodes, thereby focusing the generated electrical current at the electrically conductive portion of the implanted medical device for therapeutic treatment thereat.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on an electrically-conductive blood-contacting portion of an implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said method comprising:

(a) providing an implanted system having;

(i) a current generating means;

(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and

(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;

(b) positioning said first electrode subcutaneously at a first position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;

(c) positioning said second electrode subcutaneously at a second position external to the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and

(d) causing said current generating means to generate a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said current generating means is integral and contained within a pacemaker system.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device is fabricated from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium, and stainless steel.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said implanted bio-medical device is selected from the group consisting of a prosthetic heart valve, a cardiac stent, and an artificial conductive blood vessel.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said prosthetic heart valve is the valve housing and valve leaflets thereof.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the generated current is subthreshold.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first and second electrodes are secured to an implantable monolithic structure that is operably implanted at a subcutaneous position.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said current generating means is disposed at said monolithic structure.

9. A method for inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on an electrically-conductive blood-contacting portion of an implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said method comprising:

(a) providing a therapeutic system having;

(i) a current generating means;

(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and

(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;

(b) removably securing said first electrode to a first position external to the patient'"'"'s body;

(c) removably securing said second electrode to a second position external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and

(d) causing said current generating means to generate a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted biomedical device.