Implantable lead for septal placement of pacing electrodes

• US 8,204,606 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yongxing, Gilkerson, James O., Zarembo, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, George
• Application Number:
  US12/144,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20080262586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 607/119, 607122-126
• US Class Current: 607/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A pacing lead having a lead body configured into a pre-formed J-shape. The lead includes a pacing electrode coupled to an intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape. The lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the electrode positioned proximate a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract such that at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body is located within a pulmonary artery. In one embodiment, the distal end of the lead is configured to be passively fixated within the pulmonary artery. Another aspect includes a lead body wherein a section of the intermediate portion of the lead body is less stiff than adjacent sections of the lead body. The lead includes a pacing electrode coupled to the intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from the less stiff section. The lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the less stiff section near a bottom of the J-shape such that the electrode is positioned proximate a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract and at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body is fixated within a pulmonary artery.

Claims

1. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion of the lead body is biased to revert to a pre-formed J-shape when implanted;

the distal end of the lead body including a pre-formed J-shaped fixation curve configured for passive fixation within the pulmonary artery; and

a pacing electrode coupled to the intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape, wherein the lead body is configured to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the electrode coupled to a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract and with at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body located within a pulmonary artery.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lead includes an anti-thrombus coating.

3. The lead of claim 1, further comprising a sensor mounted proximate the distal end of the lead body to monitor cardiac output through the pulmonary artery.

4. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion, the distal end including a pre-formed fixation curve configured for being fixated within a pulmonary artery, the pre-formed fixation curve having an S-shaped configuration, a J-shaped configuration or a spiral shaped configuration, and wherein the intermediate portion of the lead body is biased to revert to a pre-formed J-shape when implanted; and

a pacing electrode mounted to the intermediate portion of the lead body, wherein a base of the J-shaped lead body is proximally located relative to the electrode such that the electrode contacts a ventricular septum when the lead is positioned in a heart with the intermediate section within the right ventricle and the distal end fixated within the pulmonary artery.

5. The lead of claim 4, further comprising a sensor mounted to the lead body to monitor cardiac output.

6. A lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion with a stiffness less than the proximal and distal ends, wherein the intermediate portion of the lead body is biased to revert to a pre-formed J-shape when implanted; and

a pacing electrode coupled to the intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape, wherein the lead body is configured to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the electrode coupled to a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract and with at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body located within a pulmonary artery;

wherein the distal end of the lead body includes a pre-formed, biased distal tip configured for passively fixating the distal end of the lead body within a pulmonary artery, the pre-formed, biased distal tip including an S-shaped configuration, a J-shaped configuration or a spiral shaped configuration.