EP0612538A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metallized, implantable cardiac electrode
Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-19
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An implantable cardiac electrode includes a flexible polymeric substrate, a metallized surface layer of the polymeric substrate forming one or more electrically conductive regions on the surface of the polymeric substrate, and one or more insulated conductors connecting the electrically conductive regions to leads, the leads being connected to a cardiac monitoring and pulse generating system. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive region forms a band on the outer surface of a polymeric tube and is electrically connected to a conductor embedded in the tube. In another embodiment, the electrically conductive region forms a desired configuration on a planar surface of the polymeric substrate, such as a concentric ring or spiral patch configuration. In these and other embodiments, the metallized surface layer includes a surface layer of the polymeric substrate that is impregnated with a metal such that a conductive region is formed in the surface of the otherwise insulative polymeric substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger W. Dahl
- 👤 David Lipson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An electrode adapted for implantation on or about a heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity, the electrode comprising: a flexible polymeric substrate having an exposed surface layer; a metal impregnated predetermined region of the exposed surface layer such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; an electrical conductor adapted for being electrically connected to the system; and a connector conductively joining the conducting surface to the electrical conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrode adapted for implantation on or about a heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity, the electrode comprising: a flexible polymeric substrate having an exposed surface layer; a metal impregnated predetermined region of the exposed surface layer such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; an electrical conductor adapted for being electrically connected to the system; and a connector conductively joining the conducting surface to the electrical conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrode of claim 1 further comprising a strain relief encapsulating the connector and partially encapsulating the electrical conducting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the metal impregnated predetermined region comprises a silicone rubber substrate impregnated with platinum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the flexible polymeric substrate is a silicone rubber tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrode of claim 4 wherein the connector is a conductive adhesive adapted for joining the conductor to the conducting surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The electrode of claim 5 further comprising a strain relief surrounding the connector and conductive adhesive and partially surrounding the conductive surface, and an outer tubing coaxially disposed around the silicone rubber tube having a distal end terminating within the strain relief, and wherein the conductor is insulatively disposed between the silicone rubber tube and the outer tubing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrode of claim 5 further comprising a second conducting surface at a distal end of the tube, and a second electrical conductor conductively connected to the second conducting surface at one end and the system at another end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein a part of the impregnated region is the connector, such that the impregnated region conductively adjoins the electrical conductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrode of claim 8 wherein the flexible polymeric substrate is a silicone rubber tube, and the conductor is insulatively surrounded by the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electrode of claim 9 further comprising an inner tubing surrounded by the silicone rubber tube, a second conductor insulatively surrounded by the inner tubing and connected to the system, and an electrically conducting tip disposed at the distal end of the electrode and conductively connected to the second conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the electrical conducting surface is a substantially planar surface configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a termination ring conductively connected to the conductor, and a conductive adhesive joining the termination ring and the electrical conducting surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrode of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a terminal block and a second polymeric substrate having a metal impregnated region across the width thereof, which region of the second polymeric substrate conductively connects the terminal block to the electrical conducting surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A biocompatible implantable electrode adapted for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating electric activity, the electrode comprising: a flexible polymeric substrate having an outer surface; a metallized film impregnating a predetermined region of the outer surface such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; and an electrical conductor electrically connecting the electrical conducting surface to the system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A biocompatible implantable electrode adapted for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating electric activity, the electrode comprising: a flexible polymeric substrate having an outer surface; a metallized film impregnating a predetermined region of the outer surface such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; and an electrical conductor electrically connecting the electrical conducting surface to the system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
An implantable cardiac electrode adapted for connection to a cardiac monitoring and pulse generating system, the electrode comprising: an elongated cardiac catheter having a distal active portion and a proximal lead portion, such proximal lead portion adapted for being electrically connected to the system; a discharge surface region having a pre- determined surface configuration on the distal active portion; a metallized film impregnating the discharge surface region such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; and a conductor electrically connecting the electrical conducting surface to the proximal lead portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
An implantable cardiac electrode adapted for connection to a cardiac monitoring and pulse generating system, the electrode comprising: an elongated cardiac catheter having a distal active portion and a proximal lead portion, such proximal lead portion adapted for being electrically connected to the system; a discharge surface region having a pre- determined surface configuration on the distal active portion; a metallized film impregnating the discharge surface region such that the impregnated region forms an electrical conducting surface; and a conductor electrically connecting the electrical conducting surface to the proximal lead portion.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for making an implantable electrode comprising: forming a flexible polymeric electrode substrate having an outer surface layer; depositing a metallized film on a predetermined region of the outer surface layer such that the metallized film impregnates the outer surface layer and forms an electrical conducting surface; and connecting a conductor lead to the electrical conducting surface.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for making an implantable electrode comprising: forming a flexible polymeric electrode substrate having an outer surface layer; depositing a metallized film on a predetermined region of the outer surface layer such that the metallized film impregnates the outer surface layer and forms an electrical conducting surface; and connecting a conductor lead to the electrical conducting surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the metallized film is deposited by ion impregnation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the metallized film is deposited by ion-enhanced metallization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising depositing an additional metallized film such that a metallic surface coating is formed on the impregnated outer surface layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the steps of depositing the metallized film to form the electrical conducting surface and of connecting the conductive lead to the electrical conducting surface are the same step.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of impregnating the flexible polymeric substrate with the metallized film such that a conductive path is formed in the substrate that is insulatively surrounded by the substrate, the conductive path being a distal portion of the conductor lead and having a distal end capable of being connected to the electrical conducting surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.