Left heart implantable cardiac stimulation system with clot prevention and method

• US 20050197673A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 device comprising:

an implantable cardiac stimulation electrode configured for placement within a patient'"'"'s body;

a pulse generator adapted to be coupled to the implantable cardiac stimulation electrode; and

a power supply that substantially continuously maintains the stimulation electrode at a negative voltage.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator and power supply together provide less than an average current of 100 nano amperes.

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

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

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than 25 mV.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the negative voltage is on the order of 50 mV.

7. 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 power supply that substantially continuously maintains the at least one stimulation electrode at a negative voltage.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the pulse generator and power supply together provide less than an average current of 100 nano amperes.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the pulse generator provides a negative going stimulation pulse starting from the negative voltage.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the pulse generator provides a positive going stimulation pulse starting from the negative voltage.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than 25 mV.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the negative voltage is on the order of 50 mV.

13. The system of claim 7 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 and a conductive coating overlying the insulator, and wherein the conductive coating is also coupled to a power supply to receive a negative voltage.

14. The system of claim 7 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 negative voltage.

15. A method of pacing a left chamber of a heart comprising:

implanting a stimulation electrode in the left chamber of the heart;

applying a substantially continuous negative voltage to the electrode; and

providing pacing pulses to the electrode.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the absolute value of the negative voltage is greater than 25 mV.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the negative voltage is on the order of 50 mV.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the negative voltage and pacing pulses result in an average current of less than 100 nA.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein providing pacing pulses comprises providing negative going pacing pulses starting at the negative voltage.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein providing pacing pulses comprises providing positive going pacing pulses starting at the negative voltage.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein implanting a stimulation electrode comprises advancing the stimulation electrode through an inter-ventricular septum and into a left ventricle.