Cardiac stimulation using leadless electrode assemblies
First Claim
1. A cardiac tissue excitation lead, comprising:
- a flexible elongate lead body having a proximal end adapted to be inserted into an implantable pulse generator assembly and having a distal end adapted to be positioned within a heart;
one or more lead conductors extending within the lead body; and
a plurality of transmitter assemblies located at different locations along a length of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body and electrically connected to the pulse generator assembly via the one or more lead conductors to wirelessly transmit pacing control information and pacing energy from respective transmitter assemblies to respective implantable leadless electrode assemblies;
wherein the respective transmitter assemblies include at least one transmitter assembly that is configured to control a respective implantable leadless electrode assembly independently of other leadless electrode assemblies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable cardiac tissue excitation system includes an implantable pacing controller unit with a pulse generation circuit. The system also includes a lead with a lead body extending between a proximal lead end attachable to the pacing controller unit and a distal lead end configured to be implanted within a heart. A lead conductor extends within the lead body. The system also includes a transmitter assembly located near the distal lead end that is electrically connected to the pulse generation circuit through the lead conductor to wirelessly transmit pacing control information and pacing energy. The system also includes a leadless electrode assembly configured to be implanted within the heart that includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmission, a charge storage unit to store the charge energy, and an electrical stimulation circuit to deliver an electrical stimulus to cardiac tissue using the pacing control information and the charge energy.
407 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A cardiac tissue excitation lead, comprising:
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a flexible elongate lead body having a proximal end adapted to be inserted into an implantable pulse generator assembly and having a distal end adapted to be positioned within a heart; one or more lead conductors extending within the lead body; and a plurality of transmitter assemblies located at different locations along a length of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body and electrically connected to the pulse generator assembly via the one or more lead conductors to wirelessly transmit pacing control information and pacing energy from respective transmitter assemblies to respective implantable leadless electrode assemblies; wherein the respective transmitter assemblies include at least one transmitter assembly that is configured to control a respective implantable leadless electrode assembly independently of other leadless electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implantable cardiac tissue excitation system, comprising:
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an implantable pacing controller unit comprising a pulse generation circuit; a lead comprising a lead body extending between a proximal lead end attachable to the pacing controller unit and a distal lead end configured to be implanted within a heart, one or more lead conductors extending within the lead body, and a plurality of transmitter assemblies located at different locations along a length of the lead body near the distal lead end, the transmitter assemblies electrically connected to the pulse generation circuit through at least one lead conductor to wirelessly transmit pacing control information and charge energy from the transmitter assemblies when the pulse generation circuit provides an electrical current to the transmitter assemblies through the lead conductor; and
respective leadless electrode assemblies configured to be implanted within the heart and each comprising a receiver to receive the wireless transmission from a respective lead transmitter assembly, a charge storage unit to store the charge energy, and an electrical stimulation circuit to deliver an electrical stimulus to cardiac tissue using the pacing control information and the charge energy;wherein the respective transmitter assemblies include at least one transmitter assembly that is configured to control a respective implanted leadless electrode assembly independently of the other leadless electrode assemblies according to control signals from the implantable pacing controller unit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a cardiac pacing system, the method comprising:
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transmitting respective energy signals wirelessly using a wired lead whose distal end is positioned within a heart, using respective transmitter assemblies located at different locations along a length of a lead body of the wired lead near the distal end, and whose proximal end is coupled to a pulse generator; receiving the transmitted energy signals at respective wireless pacing electrode assemblies coupled respectively to the respective transmitter assemblies, the respective transmitter assemblies positioned within the heart; and controlling issuance of a pacing pulse from a respective wireless pacing electrode independently of other wireless pacing electrodes using a respective transmitter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of operating a cardiac pacing system, the method comprising:
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transmitting respective energy signals wirelessly using a wired lead whose distal end is positioned in a first chamber of a heart, using respective transmitter assemblies located at different locations along a length of a lead body of the wired lead near the distal end, and whose proximal end is coupled to a pulse generator; receiving the transmitted energy signals at respective wireless pacing electrode assemblies coupled respectively to the respective transmitter assemblies, the respective transmitter assemblies positioned within a second chamber of the heart; and controlling issuance of a pacing pulse from a respective wireless pacing electrode assembly independently of other wireless pacing electrode assemblies using a respective transmitter assembly, including inhibiting issuance of a pacing pulse when a native cardiac electrical signal is sensed by the respective wireless pacing electrode assembly within a specified time period from receipt of a respective transmitted energy signal by the respective wireless pacing electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification