US4919135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Triaxial electrode
Assignee: Intermedics Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-14
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Granted: 1990-04-24
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Expires: 2008-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A lead assembly for a cardiac pacemaker is formed by an electrical conductor having one end connected to the pacemaker and a heart engaging electrode member attached to the opposite end. The electrode member has a profiled contact surface having at least one diametrically extending groove and a coating of iridium oxide thereon. The profiled electrode member offers at least a pair of edges to both grip the heart tissue to reduce relative movement of the electrode while focusing the discharge of the pulses thereby allowing reduction in the polarizing pacing voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Phillips, Jr.
- 👤 Paul R. Spehr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly comprising: electrode means defining a longitudinal axis and a tip portion provided with an exposed surface having at least one groove extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis therein, said groove having a linear nadir portion, said tip portion being electrically adapted to be coupled with excitable cardiac tissue of a heart when said lead assembly is implanted in a patient for stimulating the cardiac tissue when said electrode means is electrically energized; and electrical conductor means electrically connected at one end thereof to said electrode means for delivering electrical energy thereto, said conductor means having terminal means at the other end for connection to a pulse generator of a cardiac pacemaker.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly comprising: electrode means defining a longitudinal axis and a tip portion provided with an exposed surface having at least one groove extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis therein, said groove having a linear nadir portion, said tip portion being electrically adapted to be coupled with excitable cardiac tissue of a heart when said lead assembly is implanted in a patient for stimulating the cardiac tissue when said electrode means is electrically energized; and electrical conductor means electrically connected at one end thereof to said electrode means for delivering electrical energy thereto, said conductor means having terminal means at the other end for connection to a pulse generator of a cardiac pacemaker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 1 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lead assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cardiac lead assembly according to claim 2 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove comprises a planer base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 3 further comprising: an axial bore extending inwardly from said exposed surface of said tip portion, the axial bore having a diameter greater than the maximum width of said at least one groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of diametrically extending grooves, said grooves intersecting said longitudinal axis of the lead assembly, and adjacent grooves forming similar angles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 5 further comprising: three diametrically extending grooves, each groove having a linear nadir portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cardiac lead assembly according to claim 6 wherein the linear nadir portion of each of said grooves comprises a planar base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 7 further comprising: an axial bore extending inwardly from said exposed surface of said tip portion, the axial bore having a diameter greater than the maximum width of the grooves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 5 further comprising: ring electrode means spaced away from said electrode means; second electrical conductor means electrically connected at one end thereof to said ring electrode means, said second electrical conductor means having terminal means at the other end for connection to the pulse generator of the cardiac pacemaker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 5 wherein the exposed surface further comprises a layer of iridium oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
An implantable cardiac pacemaker for stimulating electrical activity of a heart comprising: pulse generator means; means for supplying electrical power to said pulse generator means; electrode means defining a longitudinal axis and a tip portion with an exposed surface including at least one groove extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said groove having a linear nadir portion, said electrode means adapted for electrically stimulating excitable cardiac tissue of a heart when electrically energized; and conductor means having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end electrically connected to said electrode means and said proximal end electrically connected to said pulse generator means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
An implantable cardiac pacemaker for stimulating electrical activity of a heart comprising: pulse generator means; means for supplying electrical power to said pulse generator means; electrode means defining a longitudinal axis and a tip portion with an exposed surface including at least one groove extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said groove having a linear nadir portion, said electrode means adapted for electrically stimulating excitable cardiac tissue of a heart when electrically energized; and conductor means having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end electrically connected to said electrode means and said proximal end electrically connected to said pulse generator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 17 wherein said tip portion of said electrode means has at least three intersecting diametric grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 11 wherein said tip portion of said electrode means is coated with a film of iridium oxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 7 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the electrode means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 14 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove comprises a planer base.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 15 further comprising: an axial bore extending inwardly from said exposed surface of said tip portion, the axial bore having a diameter greater than the maximum width of said at least one groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The implantable cardiac pacemaker according to claim 11 further comprising: A plurality of diametrically extending grooves, said grooves intersecting near said longitudinal axis of the lead assembly, and adjacent grooves forming similar angles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improved implantable electrode for use in combination with a cardiac pacemaker, said electrode comprising a generally cylindrical member of electrically conductive material having a proximal end and generally blunted hemispherically shaped distal end, and at least one diametrically extending groove spanning the said distal end, said groove having a linear nadir portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improved implantable electrode for use in combination with a cardiac pacemaker, said electrode comprising a generally cylindrical member of electrically conductive material having a proximal end and generally blunted hemispherically shaped distal end, and at least one diametrically extending groove spanning the said distal end, said groove having a linear nadir portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implantable electrode according to claim 18 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implantable electrode according to claim 19 wherein the linear nadir portion of said at least one groove comprises a planer base.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The implantable electrode according to claim 10 further comprising: an axial bore extending inwardly from said distal end, the axial bore having a diameter greater than the maximum width of the at least one groove.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implantable electrode according to claim 18 further comprising: a plurality of diametrically extending grooves, said grooves intersecting near a longitudinal axis of the electrode, and adjacent grooves forming similar angles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The implantable electrode according to claim 22 further comprising: An array of at least three grooves in said distal end, said array being symmetric around the longitudinal axis of the electrode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cardiac pacing lead assembly according to claim 23 wherein the exposed surface further comprises a layer of iridium oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-23 | 1993-10-23 | 1994-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-23 | 1997-10-23 | 1998-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-23 | 2001-10-23 | 2002-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |