Implantable medical lead with biased electrode

• US 8,295,943 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Eggen, Michael D., Sommer, John L., Ebert, Michael, Bourn, David Wayne, Miyazawa, Gabriela C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US12/195,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20090054936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 607115-119, 607/122
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• 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 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

This disclosure describes implantable medical leads that include a lead body and an electrode. A width of the electrode as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead varies about the perimeter of the lead. The uneven width of the electrode may bias a stimulation field in a particular direction, e.g., a radial or transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the lead. Electrodes with an uneven width may be useful for controlling the direction of propagation of the stimulation field in order to, for example, avoid phrenic nerve stimulation during LV pacing or neck muscle stimulation during vagal neurostimulation.

Claims

1. An implantable medical lead comprising:

a lead insulative body; and

electrodes along a perimeter of the insulative body, wherein widths of the electrodes as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead vary about a perimeter of the lead; and

wherein the electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode axially displaced along a length of the insulative body from the first electrode; and

wherein a width of the second electrode varies in the longitudinal direction about the perimeter of the lead; and

wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode and the width of the second electrode is the same around the perimeter of the lead.

2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are complimentary along an interface between the first and second electrodes.

3. The lead of claim 2, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes.

4. A system comprising:

an implantable medical lead, wherein the lead comprises;

a lead body; and

electrodes, wherein widths of the electrodes as measured along a longitudinal direction of the lead vary about a perimeter of the lead; and

a medical device that delivers electrical stimulation via the electrodes; and

wherein the electrodes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode axially displaced along a length of the lead from the first electrode; and

wherein the second electrode comprises a ring electrode, wherein the width of the second electrode varies about the perimeter of the lead; and

wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode and the width of the second electrode is substantially the same around a circumference of the lead.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the medical device is configured to selectively activate at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to control a direction of propagation of a stimulation field emanating from the selected electrodes.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second electrodes are complimentary along an interface between the first and second electrodes.

7. The lead of claim 6, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a third electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode varies about the perimeter of the lead, and wherein the second and third electrodes are complimentary along an interface between the second and third electrodes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a sum of the width of the first electrode, the width of the second electrode, and the width of the third electrode are substantially the same about the perimeter of the lead.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising an insulative material between the first and second electrodes and the second and third electrodes.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fourth electrode positioned at a distal tip of the lead.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the medical device comprises an implantable medical device.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the medical device comprises a cardiac stimulator.