Electrodes array for a pacemaker

• US 7,496,408 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ghanem, Raja N., Olson, Walter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): SARCIONE, JESSICA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/004,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607 4- 5, 607116-117, 607/119, 607/122, 607/7, 607 9- 11, 607/63, 607/68, 607/70, 607/72, 607/74, 607/115, 607/129, 607/142, 600372-374, 600/377, 600/381, 600/382, 600/393
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy

Abstract

A cardiac pacemaker and method of its use. The pacemaker is provided with a pacing electrode array configured for location at a left anterior portion of a patient'"'"'s thorax between the patients third and sixth ribs, outside the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity. The pacing electrode array includes multiple pacing electrodes and preferably includes one or more steering electrodes for configuring the electrical field produced by delivery of pacing pulses to avoid unwanted nerve and muscle stimulation while allowing cardiac stimulation. The electrode array may be located subcutaneously, submuscularly or on the patient'"'"'s skin.

Claims

1. A cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a pacing electrode array comprising an outer ring electrode and a central electrode located concentric to the outer ring electrode and a first steering electrode laterally offset from the outer ring and central electrodes; and

pacing pulse generator means for delivering pacing pulses to the outer ring and central electrodes with the outer ring and central electrodes at differing polarities and to the first steering electrode at the same polarity as one of the outer ring and central electrodes, wherein the pacemaker is an implantable pacemaker having a device housing and wherein the pacing electrode array is located on the device housing.

2. A cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a pacing electrode array comprising an outer ring electrode and a central electrode located concentric to the outer ring electrode and a first steering electrode laterally offset from the outer ring and central electrodes; and

pacing pulse generator means for delivering pacing pulses to the outer and central electrodes with the outer and ring electrodes at differing polarities and to the first steering electrode at the same polarity as one of the outer ring and central electrodes, wherein the pacemaker is an external pacemaker provided with an external lead and wherein the pacing electrode array is located on the external lead and is configured to be located on a skin surface of a patient for delivering the pacing pulses to a heart of the patient.

3. A cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a pacing electrode array comprising two concentric ring electrodes and a central electrode located concentric to the ring electrodes;

an electrode selector operable to select two electrodes within the electrode array; and

pacing pulse generator means for delivering pacing pulses to the selected electrodes with the selected electrodes at differing polarities, wherein the pacemaker is an implantable pacemaker having a device housing and wherein the pacing electrode array is located on the device housing.

4. A pacemaker according to claim 3, wherein the pacemaker further comprises means for adjusting pacing pulse energy delivered between pairs of electrodes within the pacing electrode array.

5. A cardiac pacemaker, comprising:

a pacing electrode array comprising two concentric ring electrodes and a central electrode located concentric to the ring electrodes;

an electrode selector operable to select two electrodes within the electrode array; and

pacing pulse generator means for delivering pacing pulses to the selected electrodes with the selected electrodes at differing polarities, wherein the pacemaker is an external pacemaker provided with an external lead and wherein the pacing electrode array is located on the external lead and is configured to be located on a skin surface of a patient for delivering the pacing pulses to a heart of the patient.