Method for cardiac pacing and sensing using combination of electrodes

• US 4,848,352 A
• Filed: 07/07/1988
• Issued: 07/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telectronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Schroeppel, Edward A., Pohndorf, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/217,085
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 128/784-786, 128/419 P, 128/419 D, 128/642, 128/303.17
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0565 Electrode heads

Abstract

A method for cardiac pacing and sensing is disclosed. A cardiac pacing lead is inserted into a heart chamber. The lead carries a plurality of separate electrodes positioned at the distal tip of the lead and transversely spaced from and electrically isolated from each other. A separate electrical conductor is provided for each electrode. A plurality of the electrodes are combined via electrical conductors to provide a relatively large electrode area for sensing cardiac activity. One of the electrodes is used for providing pacing pulses to the heart chamber. The pacing electrode has a relatively smaller surface area than the relatively large surface area used for sensing.

Claims

1. A method for cardiac pacing and sensing, which comprises the steps of:

providing a cardiac pacing lead having a distal tip at one end thereof, a first electrode positioned at said distal tip and a second electrode positoned at said distal tip, with said first and second electrodes being separate from each other, transversely spaced from each other, and electrically isolated from each other;

providing a first electrical conductor for said first electrode;

providing a second electrical conductor for said second electrode, said second electrical conductor being a different electrical conductor from said first electrical conductor;

inserting said lead into a heart chamber;

combining said first and second electrodes via said first and second electrical conductors to provide a relatively large surface electrode area for sensing cardiac activity; and

using only said first electrode for providing pacing pulses to the heart chamber, said first electrode having a relatively smaller surface electrode area than said relatively large surface area used for sensing and resulting from the combination of said first and second electrodes.