Trans-septal intra-cardiac lead system

• US 7,274,965 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karicherla, Annapurna, Morgan, Kevin L., Bornzin, Gene A., Williams, Sheldon
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US11/053,373
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 600/119, 600/122, 600/508, 600/506, 600/488, 607/17, 607/119, 607/122, 607/506
• US Class Current: 607/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of measuring pressure through a septum in a patient'"'"'s heart is disclosed. A lead inserted into the right side of a heart is routed through the septum to gain access to the left side of the heart. The lead includes an attachment structure that secures the lead to one or both of the septal walls. The attachment structure may include at least one protruding tine, membrane, inflatable balloon, involuted spiral or J-lead that engage one or more sides of the septum. The lead also includes one or more sensors for measuring cardiac pressure on the left side of the heart and, as necessary, the right side of the heart.

Claims

1. A lead configured for measuring pressure in a heart comprising:

a lead body;

wherein the lead body defines a J-lead structure at a distal portion of the lead body and adapted to attach the lead body to a septal wall through which the lead body passes, the J-lead structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the J-lead structure adapted to be located in a right chamber of the heart and the distal portion of the J-lead structure adapted to be located in a left chamber of the heart; and

a pressure sensor disposed at the distal portion of the J-lead structure of the lead body and adapted to measure pressure at the left chamber of the heart.

2. The lead of claim 1 comprising an attachment structure located at the distal portion of the J-lead structure.

3. The lead of claim 2 wherein the attachment structure comprises at least one tine, membrane, balloon or involuted spiral.

4. The lead of claim 1 comprising at least one spring for biasing the J-lead structure into a J-shape.

5. The lead of claim 1 comprising at least one stylet for substantially straightening the J-lead structure.

6. The lead of claim 1 comprising at least one flexible diaphragm and at least one lumen in fluid communication with the at least one flexible diaphragm.

7. The lead of claim 6 wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen.

8. The lead of claim 1 comprising at least one electrode at the J-lead structure.

9. The lead of claim 8 wherein the at least one electrode is configured to pace the heart or sense signals in the heart.

10. The lead of claim 1 comprising another pressure sensor disposed at the proximal portion of the J-lead structure and adapted to measure pressure at the right chamber of the heart.

11. The lead of claim 10 wherein the right chamber is a right atrium and the left chamber is a left atrium.

12. A lead configured for measuring pressure in a heart comprising:

a lead body;

wherein the lead body defines a J-lead structure at a distal portion of the lead body and adapted to attach the lead body to a heart wall through which the lead body passes, the J-lead structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the J-lead structure adapted to be located in a right chamber of the heart and the distal portion of the J-lead structure adapted to be located in a left chamber of the heart;

an electrode at the J-lead structure; and

a pressure sensor disposed at the distal portion of the J-lead structure and adapted to measure pressure within the left chamber of the heart.

13. The lead of claim 12 comprising an attachment structure located at the proximal portion of the J-lead structure.

14. The lead of claim 13 wherein the attachment structure comprises at least one tine, membrane, balloon or involuted spiral.

15. The lead of claim 12 comprising at least one spring for biasing the J-lead structure into a J-shape.

16. The lead of claim 12 comprising at least one stylet for substantially straightening the J-lead structure.

17. The lead of claim 12 comprising at least one flexible diaphragm and at least one lumen in fluid communication with the at least one flexible diaphragm.

18. The lead of claim 17 wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen.

19. The lead of claim 12 wherein the at least one electrode is configured to pace the heart or sense signals in the heart.

20. The lead of claim 12 comprising another pressure sensor disposed at the proximal portion of the J-lead structure and adapted to measure pressure within the right chamber of the heart.

21. The lead of claim 20 wherein the heart wall is a septal wall, and wherein the right chamber is a right atrium and the left chamber is a left atrium.