Load-carrying body for reducing torsional and tensile loading on electronic components in an implantable medical electrical lead

• US 8,244,373 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bauer, Ryan Thomas, Dabney, Warren S., Stevenson, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US12/914,048
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/04 Electrodes electrosurgical electrodes A61B18/14
• 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 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• 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 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/288 Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/00 Fixed inductances of the signal type coils in general H01F5/00; inductors without a potential-jump or surface barrier specially adapted for integrated circuits, details thereof and multistep manufacturing processes therefor H01L28/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/065 Core mounted around conductor to absorb noise, e.g. EMI filter
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/35 Feed-through capacitors or anti-noise capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/40 Structural combinations of fixed capacitors with other electric elements, the structure mainly consisting of a capacitor, e.g. RC combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 1/0007 of radio frequency interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2001/0042 Wound, ring or feed-through type capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2007/013 Notch or bandstop filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0115 comprising only inductors and capacitors H03H7/075, H03H7/09, H03H7/12, H03H7/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1766 Parallel LC in series path H03H7/1783 takes precedence

Abstract

A load-carrying body for reducing torsional and tensile loading on electrical components in an implantable medical electrical lead includes an electronic component disposed in-line with the implantable medical electrical lead, and a casing for the electronic component. The electronic component has a proximal end conductively coupled to a lead conductor and a distal end conductively coupled to a lead electrode. The casing is mechanically coupled to the lead so as to isolate the electrical component from torque or tensile loads applied to the lead, the lead electrode, or both.

Claims

1. A load-carrying body for reducing torsional and tensile loading on electronic components in an implantable medical electrical lead, comprising:

an electronic component disposed in-line with an implantable medical electrical lead, the electronic component having a proximal end conductively coupled to a lead conductor and a distal end conductively coupled to a lead electrode; and

a casing for the electronic component, the casing being mechanically coupled to the lead so as to isolate the electronic component from torque or tensile loads applied to the lead, the lead electrode, or both.

2. The load-carrying body of claim 1, including a proximal torque coupler disposed between the lead and the casing.

3. The load-carrying body of claim 2, wherein the casing includes a proximal hermetic seal isolated by the proximal torque coupler from torque or tensile loads applied to the lead.

4. The load-carrying body of claim 2, wherein the proximal torque coupler includes a proximal pin mechanically attached to the lead conductor and conductively coupled to the lead conductor and the electronic component.

5. The load-carrying body of claim 4, including a drive shaft disposed between the proximal pin and the lead conductor.

6. The load-carrying body of claim 1, including a distal torque coupler disposed between the lead electrode and the casing.

7. The load-carrying body of claim 6, wherein the casing includes a distal hermetic seal isolated by the distal torque coupler from torque or tensile loads applied to the lead electrode.

8. The load-carrying body of any of claims 1-6, wherein the electronic component comprises a bandstop filter, an electronic switch, a MEMs switch, a diode array, a multiplexer, a pin diode, a capacitor, a resistor, an inductor, an electronic sensor, or any combination thereof.

9. The load-carrying body of claim 6, wherein the distal torque coupler includes a distal pin mechanically attached to the lead electrode and conductively coupled to the lead electrode and the electronic component.

10. The load-carrying body of any of claims 1-6, including a collar disposed at a distal end of the implantable medical electrical lead, wherein the casing is disposed within the collar and is translatable along a longitudinal axis of the collar.

11. The load-carrying body of claim 10, including a seal disposed between the casing and the collar for preventing passage of ionic fluid into the lead through its distal end.

12. The load-carrying body of claim 11, wherein the seal is disposed at a distal end, at a proximal end, or along a middle of the casing.

13. The load-carrying body of claim 12, including a collar disposed at a distal end of the implantable medical electrical lead wherein the torque coupler is disposed within the collar and is translatable along a longitudinal axis of the collar.

14. The load-carrying body of claim 13, including a seal disposed between the torque coupler and the collar for preventing passage of bionic fluid into the lead through its distal end.

15. The load-carrying body of claim 11, wherein the seal is fixed relative to the casing.

16. The load-carrying body of claim 11, wherein the seal is fixed relative to the collar.

17. The load-carrying body of claim 10, including an insulative conformal coating disposed about at least a portion of the casing.

18. The load-carrying body of claim 17, wherein the conformal coating comprises a dielectric ceramic coating.

19. The load-carrying body of claim 17, wherein the conformal coating is applied by sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, dipping in or applying a chemical solution.

20. The load-carrying body of claim 17, wherein the conformal coating comprises alumina or parylene.

21. The load-carrying body of claim 10, wherein the casing comprises a dielectric ceramic coating.

22. The load-carrying body of claim 10, wherein the casing comprises alumina.

23. The load-carrying body of claim 1, including a unitary torque coupler disposed over the casing.