Flexible lead for digital cardiac rhythm management

• US 20050136385A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eigler, Neal L., Whiting, James S., Mann, Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/027,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20050136385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/320
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• 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 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/288 for artificial respiration or heart massage

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal housing and a lead. The proximal housing includes a first energy storage device. The distal module is implantable within a patient'"'"'s heart, and includes a second energy storage device, at least one electrode, and a control module. The control module controls the delivery of at least one electrical stimulus from the second energy storage device to a location in communication with the patient'"'"'s heart. The lead connects the proximal housing to the distal module and is configured to communicate one or more digital signals between the proximal housing and the distal module.

Claims

1. A flexible lead for implantation within a human body, comprising:

a lead length, wherein said lead length extends from a first end to a second end, wherein said first end is coupled to a proximal housing implanted at a first location within a human body, and said second end is coupled to a distal module implanted at a second location within a human body; and

at least two conductors, wherein said at least two conductors extend from the first end to the second end, and wherein said at least two conductors are in electrical communication with at least three electrodes, and wherein said at least three electrodes are greater in quantity than said at least two conductors.

2. The lead of claim 1, further comprising a shielding, wherein said shielding extends from said first end to said second end, covering at least one of said at least two conductors over said lead length.

3. The lead of claim 1, wherein said first location is proximate a shoulder, and said second location is in inside of a heart.

4. The lead of claim 1, wherein said at least three electrodes comprise an indifferent electrode, a pacing electrode, and a sensing electrode.

5. The lead of claim 1, wherein said at least two conductors comprise no more than two conductors.

6. The lead of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two conductors comprises a shielding.

7. The lead of claim 1, wherein said at least three electrodes comprise no more than three electrodes.

8. The lead of claim 1, wherein said lead is adapted to communicate digital signals between said proximal housing and said distal module.

9. The lead of claim 8, wherein said digital signals comprise a control instruction to deliver an electrical stimulus to the second location.

10. The lead of claim 8, wherein said digital signals comprise a power pulse.

11. An implantable lead, said lead comprising:

An elongate body, said elongate body having a first end, a second end, at least one first conductor extending from the first end to the second end, at least one second conductor extending from the first end to a midportion located between the first end and the second end, and at least one shielding layer extending from the first end to the second end and covering the at least one first conductor between the first end and the second end, wherein said first end is adapted to be coupled to a proximal housing implanted at a first location within a human body, and said second end is coupled to a distal housing implanted at a second location within a human body, wherein said at least one first conductor is coupled to at least two electrodes, and wherein said at least one second conductor is coupled to an indifferent electrode.

13. The lead of claim 11, wherein said at least two electrodes comprise a pacing electrode and a sensing electrode.

14. The lead of claim 11, wherein said at least one first conductors comprises no more than one conductor.

15. The lead of claim 11, wherein said at least two electrodes comprise no more than two electrodes.

12. The lead of claim 111, wherein said first location is proximate a shoulder, and said second location is in inside of a heart.

16. The lead of claim 111, wherein said lead is adapted to communicate digital signals between said proximal housing and said distal module.

17. The lead of claim 16, wherein said digital signals comprise a control instruction to deliver an electrical stimulus to the second location.

18. The lead of claim 16, wherein said digital signals comprise a power pulse.