High strength, low resistivity electrode

• US 7,280,875 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Chitre, Yougandh, Helland, John R., Conger, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US10/773,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 607/115, 607/116, 607/122, 607/123, 174/96, 174/98, 174/126.1, 174/126.2, 298/25
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

For use in an implantable medical device, there is provided a biocompatible, biostable, corrosion-resistant wire strand comprising a core comprising a plurality of electrically conductive, low electrical resistance filaments embedded in an electrically conductive matrix, and a low electrical resistance, substantially chemically inactive cladding.

Claims

1. An implantable cardiac lead for transmitting electrical signals between an implantable medical device and selected body tissue in the heart, the lead comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the lead body carrying a connector assembly connectable to the implantable medical device; and

at least one cardioverting and/or defibrillating coil electrode on the distal end of the lead body, the at least one cardioverting and/or defibrillating coil electrode being electrically connected to a terminal contact on the connector assembly, the at least one cardioverting and/or defibrillating coil electrode comprising a biocompatible, biostable, corrosion-resistant wire strand comprising (a) a core comprising a plurality of electrically conductive, low electrical resistance filaments embedded in an electrically conductive matrix and (b) a low electrical resistance, substantially chemically inactive cladding enclosing the core, the cladding being discrete from the matrix.

2. The lead of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one pacing and/or sensing electrode.

3. The lead of claim 1 in which:

the core of the wire strand is substantially devoid of interstices.

4. The lead of claim 1 in which:

the filaments are braided.