EP0460324B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Subcutaneous defibrillation electrodes
Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
•
Filing: 1990-11-01
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Granted: 1996-03-20
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Expires: 2010-11-01
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger W. Dahl
- 👤 David K. Swanson
- 👤 Stephen J. Hahn
- 👤 Douglas J. Lang
- 👤 John E. Heil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A body implantable tissue stimulating electrode assembly (16,86,122,176), including: an elongate, electrically conductive lead (26) having a proximal end region and a distal end region (24); and an electrode including a plurality of compliant, electrically conductive electrode segments (18,20,22) and a connecting means (24) for coupling the segments at the distal end region of the lead for substantially simultaneous reception of tissue stimulating electrical pulses from a pulse generating means at the proximal end of the lead, each of said electrode segments (18,20,22) having a nominal width and a length substantially longer than the nominal width, said electrode segments being arranged in spaced apart and side-by-side relation such that each of the electrode segments, over most of its length, is spaced apart from each one of the other electrode segments by a distance of at least 1.5 cm, said electrode segments when receiving the tissue stimulating pulses cooperating to define an effective electrode area (42) incorporating all of the electrode segments and having a width of at least 1.5 cm, and wherein said electrode segments are not formed from a wire braid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein: said electrode segments (18,20,22) are linear, and in parallel, spaced apart relation to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly of Claim 2 wherein: said electrode segments (18,20,22) extend in a longitudinal direction, and said connecting means (24) comprises said distal region (24) of lead (26), connected to respective first end portions of the electrode segments along said distal region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of Claim 3 further including: an electrically insulative layer (28) covering the lead distal end region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly of Claim 3 further including: an elongate, electrically conductive and transversely extended coupling path (24) connected to respective second and opposite end portions of said electrode segments (18,20,22).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of Claim 5 further including: an electrically insulative layer (28) covering the lead distal end region (24) and coupling path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein: each of said electrode segments (22) includes at least one electrically conductive cable having a conductive core of silver (30) within a conductive metal tube (32), and a layer (34) covering the tube and consisting essentially of one or more of the following: platinum, iridium, ruthenium and palladium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of Claim 7 wherein: each of the electrode segments (22) includes a plurality of said wires (76) wound together in a twisted configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly of Claim 7 wherein: each of the electrode segments (22) includes a flexible, electrically insulative cylindrical core (82), and at least one electrically conductive wire (84) wound in a helical coil about the cylindrical core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein: each of the electrode segments (88,90,92) extends radially outwardly of a common junction (94,118).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of Claim 10 wherein: a single electrically conductive path forms first and second ones of the electrode segments (90,92), and a third one of the segments (88) is joined to the mid-point (118) of the electrically conductive path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly of Claim 10 wherein: a first one of the electrode segments (136) is formed as a distal end region (126) of the lead (124), and the remaining ones of the electrode segments (138-142) are coupled to the distal end region (126) of the first segment (136).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of Claim 12 further including: an electrically insulative layer (128) substantially covering the lead (124) but leaving the distal end region exposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The implantable lead of Claim 1 wherein: said segments (136-142) comprise portions of a single conductive wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of Claim 14 wherein: said conductive path comprises the distal region of the lead.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of Claim 15 further including: an electrically insulative layer substantially covering the lead while leaving the distal end region exposed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of Claim 15 wherein: said lead distal end region is in a serpentine configuration, with said segments (136-142) parallel to and aligned with one another, side-by-side.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly (176) of Claim 15 wherein: said distal end region is formed in spiral configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of Claim 1 wherein: said segments (18-22,88-92) have respective free ends, and include means (38-40,102-106) at the respective free ends for reducing current density.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of Claim 19 wherein: said means (36-40) at the respective ends includes a loop formed at each of the free ends.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of Claim 19 wherein: said means (102-106) at the respective ends includes a tab forming an enlargement at each of the free ends.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of Claim 19 wherein: said means (102-106) at the respective ends includes an electrically conductive body secured to each of the free ends.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
94 words
A body implantable defibrillation system, including: a defibrillation pulse generator (192); a first defibrillation electrode (188) implantable at least proximate the thoracic region, said first electrode constructed in accordance with Claim 1, said conductive lead (26) providing a first coupling means (194) electrically coupling the first defibrillation electrode (188) and the defibrillation pulse generator (192); a second defibrillation electrode (190) implantable at least proximate the thoracic region and spaced apart from the first defibrillation electrode (188); and a second coupling means (196) electrically coupling the defibrillation pulse generator (192) and the second electrode (190).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 23 wherein: the second electrode (190) is positionable in the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart, with its distal end proximate the apex of the right ventricle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 24 wherein: the first defibrillation electrode (188) is adapted for fixation to epicardial tissue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 24 wherein: the first defibrillation electrode (188) is positionable inside of the pleural cavity, to the left of and anterior with respect to the heart.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 24 wherein: the first defibrillation electrode (188) is positionable at the sternum.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 24 wherein: the first defibillation electrode (188) is adapted for subcutaneous positioning proximate the pleural cavity and outside of the rib cage to the left of and anterior with respect to the heart.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 23 wherein: said second electrode (190) is of a construction substantially identical to that of the first defibrillation electrode (188), and wherein the first and second defibrillation electrodes are adapted for subcutaneous positioning proximate the pleural cavity, outside the rib cage and on opposite sides of the heart.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 29 wherein: the first defibrillation electrode (188) is positionable to the left of and anterior with the respect to he heart, and the second defibrillation electrode (190) is positionable to the right of and posterior with respect to the heart.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The defibrillation system of Claim 23 wherein: said defibrillation pulse generator (192) includes circuitry for sensing cardiac electrical activity, and said first defibrillation electrode (188), when not receiving the defibrillation pulses, is usable with said circuitry in sensing cardiac electrical activity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
91 words
A body implantable defibrillation system including: an electrode assembly according to Claim 1; a defibrillation pulse generating means (192) coupled to the proximal end of the lead; and wherein said electrode (176) has a nominal width and a length at least ten times its nominal width, said electrode arranged in a curved configuration with a plurality of length-portions (184,186) of the electrode disposed in side-by-side alignment and in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation, with the separation between adjacent length-portions in a direction perpendicular to the length-portions, being at least 1.5 cm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of Claim 32 wherein: said electrode is arranged in a serpentine configuration, and the length-portions are linear and side-by-side.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The assembly of Claim 32 wherein: said electrode (176) is arranged in a spiral configuration, with each of said length-portions (184-186) comprising an arcuate sector of the spiral.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of Claim 32 wherein: said nominal width is at most 2.5 cm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1989006148A1
Cited
EP0428279A2
Cited
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