Left heart implantable cardiac stimulation system with clot prevention and method

• US 7,526,336 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko; George R
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/794,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607/11, 607/119, 607/121, 607/13
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• 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 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 Pacing therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides pacing stimulation therapy from within the left ventricle of a heart. The device includes a pulse generator adapted to be coupled to an implantable cardiac stimulation electrode and a power supply that maintains the stimulation electrode at a negative voltage. The electrode may be implanted within the left ventricle by feeding the electrode from the right ventricle through the right ventricular septum and into the left ventricle.

Claims

1. An implantable cardiac stimulation system comprising:

at least one implantable lead including at least one stimulation electrode; and

an implantable cardiac stimulation device comprising a pulse generator adapted to be coupled to the at least one stimulation electrode, and a first power supply, adapted to be selectively coupled to an output of the pulse generator, that substantially continuously maintains the at least one stimulation electrode at a first negative voltage, wherein the pulse generator provides the pacing pulses to the stimulation electrode and wherein the lead includes a conductor that couples the pulse generator and the power supply to the at least one electrode, an insulator overlying the conductor, a conductive coating overlying the insulator, and a second insulator overlying the conductive coating, and wherein the device includes a second power supply coupled to the conductive coating that maintains the conductive coating at a second negative voltage.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator and the first power supply together provide less than an average current of 100 nano amperes to the stimulation electrode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator provides a negative going stimulation pulse starting from the first negative voltage.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator provides a positive going stimulation pulse starting from the first negative voltage.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the absolute value of the first negative voltage applied to the stimulation electrode is greater than 25 mV.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first negative voltage applied to the stimulation electrode is on the order of 50 mV.