LOCAL LEAD TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN IMPLANTABLE WIRELESS ACOUSTIC STIMULATORS

• US 20160114176A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Richard E., Cowan, Mark W., Willis, Nathanial P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36842 Multi-site stimulation in the same chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36843 Bi-ventricular stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A wireless cardiac stimulation device is disclosed comprising a controller-transmitter, a receiver, and a stimulating electrode, wherein the stimulating electrode and the receiver are separately implantable at cardiac tissue locations of the heart and are connected by a local lead. Having separately implantable receiver and stimulating electrodes improves the efficiency of ultrasound mediated wireless stimulation by allowing the receiver to be placed optimally for reception efficiency, thereby resulting in longer battery life, and by allowing the stimulating electrode to be placed optimally for stimulus delivery. Another advantage is a reduced risk of embolization, since the receiver and stimulating electrode ensemble is attached at two locations of the heart wall, with the connecting local leads serving as a safety tether should either the receiver or the stimulating electrode become dislodged.

Claims

1. A method of using acoustic energy to stimulate cardiac tissue, comprising:

subcutaneously implanting a transmitter;

implanting a receiver at a first cardiac tissue location, wherein the receiver receives acoustic energy transmitted by the transmitter and produces a biologically stimulating electrical output in response to the received acoustic energy; and

implanting a stimulating electrode at a second cardiac tissue location, wherein the stimulating electrode is connected to the receiver by a local lead, and wherein the stimulating electrode receives the biologically stimulating electrical output from the receiver and delivers said output to cardiac tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cardiac tissue location is chosen to optimize acoustic energy transmission from the transmitter to the receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising implanting additional stimulating electrodes, wherein the stimulating electrodes are connected to the receiver by the local lead.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising implanting additional stimulating electrodes, wherein the stimulating electrodes are connected to the receiver by additional local leads.

5. A method of stimulating cardiac tissue by converting acoustic energy to electrical energy, comprising:

transmitting acoustic energy from a subcutaneously implanted transmitter;

receiving acoustic energy at a first cardiac location;

producing a biologically stimulating electrical output in response to the received acoustic energy; and

delivering the biologically stimulating electrical output via a local lead to a stimulating electrode implanted at a second cardiac tissue location, thereby stimulating cardiac tissue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first cardiac tissue location is chosen to optimize acoustic energy reception from the transmitter.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising delivering the biologically stimulating electrical output to additional stimulating electrodes implanted at additional cardiac tissue locations via the local lead.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising delivering the biologically stimulating electrical output to additional stimulating electrodes implanted at additional cardiac tissue locations via additional local leads.