Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Angeion Corporation

Mieczyslaw Mirowski

Other

Biosense Webster, Inc.

Roger W. Dahl

Stanley M., Jr. Bach

Ronald W., Jr. Heil

Roger W Dahl

David K Swanson

Douglas J Lang

Bruce H KenKnight

John E Heil

Robert G Hauser

Stephen John Hahn

Stephen Kenneth Sundquist

Stanley M Bach, Jr

Ronald W Heil, Jr

Thomas M Soukup

Duane J Zytkovicz

Kenneth C Gardeski

J Edward Shapland

Gregory A Boser

Elisabeth Lacy Belden

Arnold W Thornton

David Lipson

Theodore J Schulte

Duane Zytkovicz

Graydon E Beatty

Mark W Kroll

Frank R Dropps

John Louis Sommer

Morton M Mower

Raymond E Ideker

Steven D Savage

David W Mayer

Michael J Kallok

Brad D Pedersen

Randall S Nelson

Robert W Wickham, Jr

Bruce H Kenknight

Randy Nelson

Mark A Stockburger

Paul A Guse

Jayne G Fangel

Robert W Wickham, Jr, Deceased

James D Kadera

J Michael Hoch

Steve Sundquist

Edward Shapland

Sanjiv Arora

Randy S Nelson

Joe Perttu

Jr Bach Stanley M

Jr Heil Ronald W

Mark Stockburger

An implantable system includes a housing configured for subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic placement in a patient, and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the housing, each of the plurality of electrodes configured for subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic placement in the patient. Detection circuitry is provided in the housing and coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The detection circuitry is configured to detect cardiac activity necessitating a cardiac stimulation therapy. Energy delivery circuitry is provided in the housing and coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The energy delivery circuitry is configured to deliver the cardiac stimulation therapy.

Subcutaneous cardiac rhythm management

A method includes placing a first electrode into electrical contact with a first portion of the heart, placing a second electrode into electrical contact with a second portion of the heart, and transmitting an electrical pulse between the first electrode and the second electrode in response to a determination that a cardiac event is detected.

System and method of cardiac stimulation at oblique vein

A system including an implantable defibrillation electrode includes a first layer of porous Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) adjacent to at least one surface of the defibrillation electrode, the first layer of porous PTFE having a fibril length adapted to bleed gas away from the at least one surface of the defibrillation electrode, and a second layer of porous PTFE formed over the first layer, the second layer of porous PTFE having a fibril length adapted to prevent substantially all tissue in-growth.

System for promoting selective tissue in-growth for an implantable medical device

A method and device for transmitting a signal in an implantable medical device that includes a control unit and a first electrode and a second electrode positioned along a lead body. A connector block is positioned along an upper portion of a housing portion of the control unit, and a connector is positioned at a proximal portion of the lead body and is insertable within the connector block. A third electrode having a conductive element is positioned along the control unit in close proximity adjacent to the connector. The control unit transmits a signal between the first electrode and the second electrode and determines an alternate transmission path of the signal between the third electrode and one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode in response to the signal not being effectively transmitted between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Apparatus and method for transmitting an electrical signal in an implantable medical device

A pulse generator housing for enclosing and containing pulse generator defibrillation circuitry. The housing is formed entirely of electrically conductive metal defining an electrically conductive outer surface which is connected to the pulse generator circuitry for delivering defibrillating energy to the heart. The pulse generator housing is implanted in the pectoral region proximate the heart with the conductive surface facing the heart. Regions of the conductive outer surface may be electrically isolated and dedicated for separately sensing and shocking. The outer surface may be coated with platinum. Additional coiled segment electrodes may extend from the housing and be electrically connected to the conductive outer surface so as to increase the effective conductive surface area. A sensor is provided to determine whether the housing is inside or outside a body of a patient to disconnect the pulse generator housing conductive surface from the pulse generator circuitry when the unit is outside the body of a patient.

Implantable intravenous cardiac stimulation system with pulse generator housing serving as optional additional electrode

An electrical lead includes an elongate body having a proximal end, and a sensing unit capable of resolving a change in a spatial configuration of the electrical lead. A medical device includes a control unit, an elongate body having a proximal end coupled with the control unit, and a sensing unit capable of resolving a change in a spatial configuration of the electrical lead and relating it to the amount of blood ejected from the heart. A method includes receiving a signal transmitted from a lead disposed within a heart and determining a change in a dimension of the heart, due to the heart beating, based upon the signal.

Apparatus and method for sensing spatial displacement in a heart

An improved system and method for deploying medical electrical leads is disclosed. The system includes a guiding device such as a guidewire used to navigate the vascular system of a body. The guiding device includes a fixation member that can be deployed to maintain the guiding device at a desired location within the vascular system. The fixation member may be an inflatable device such as a balloon, or alternatively, may be an expandable device constructed of flexible fibers that has both an expanded and a contracted state. The system may further include a coupling member located adjacent to the guiding device. The coupling member may be a rail extending distally from a proximal end of the guiding device to a point proximal the fixation member. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is a channel included in the body of the guiding device adapted to slidably engage an electrode assembly. The coupling member is adapted to allow the electrode assembly to be slid to the distal end of the coupling member and deployed at a predetermined implant site. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is movable with respect to the guiding device. This allows the coupling member to be re-positioned to multiple implant sites to deploy more than one electrode while the fixation mechanism remains stationary within a patient's vascular system. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the guiding device includes a lumen to delivery fluoro visible medium.

System and method for placing endocardial leads

A medical electrical lead is disclosed that is adapted for placement in the coronary sinus, or a branch vein thereof. The lead includes a first and second pace/sense electrode. A selection mechanism is provided to select either the first or the second electrode for use as a cathode, with the other electrode being selected as the anode. According to another aspect of the invention, a high-voltage coil electrode may be provided between the first and second electrodes. The coil electrode may be electrically coupled to the anode to increase the shadow area of the coil electrode.

System for providing electrical stimulation to a left chamber of a heart

A bi-furcated medical electrical lead that is adapted to be implanted in the cardiac venous system is disclosed. The lead includes a bifurcated distal portion having first and second elongated members, or fingers. In one embodiment, the first elongated member, or thumb portion, is adapted to be positioned within the coronary sinus or great cardiac vein. The second elongated member, or finger portion, of the bifurcated distal tip, may be positioned within a branch vessel of the coronary sinus such as the posterior vein or middle cardiac vein. The thumb portion may carry at least one electrode for pacing and/or sensing, and may carry additional electrodes for multi-polar pacing applications, whereas the finger portion may carry a defibrillation electrode. Portions of the pacing/sensing electrodes may be insulated so that electrical stimulation is only delivered to myocardial tissue. According to one method of using the bifurcated lead system, the lead may be employed in conjunction with a standard right ventricular pacing and defibrillation lead to deliver big-ventricular pacing and defibrillation therapy. Both the thumb and finger may include preformed or shapeable distal tips to aid in the positioning of these structures within the respective vessels. A stiffening member may be used to maintain the thumb in a substantially parallel position with the finger when the lead is being positioned within the vascular system, as may be accomplished with the further use of a guide catheter.

Bifurcated lead system for a cardiac vein

Disclosed is an improved system and method to selectively promote tissue in-growth on, or adjacent to, an implantable medical device. In one embodiment, at least one surface of the housing of a medical device is in contact with a first portion of a porous PTFE having a pore size adapted to prevent substantially all tissue in-growth. This first portion, or layer, of porous PTFE material is further in contact at predetermined locations with an additional porous PTFE layer having a pore size adapted to selectively promote tissue in-growth only at the predetermined locations. Each of the PTFE layers may be formed of porous PTFE tubing or tape. Alternatively, the two layers may comprise a single composite structure that has a more porous material exposed on a first surface, and a less porous, more dense, material on a second surface. Another embodiment of the invention involves forming the layers of PTFE into a removable member that is adjacent to at least one surface of the implantable medical device. The removable member may take the form of a sleeve that surrounds a portion of a the medical device and is adapted to remain in the body during an extraction process. For example, during the removal of a lead, the sleeve remains within the body and is capable of receiving a replacement lead, making it unnecessary to disturb tissue in-growth attached to the sleeve.

System and method for promoting selective tissue in-growth for an implantable medical device

An implantable device including an elastically compressible member coupled to a distal end of a lead and further coupled to at least one electrode. The compressible member is in a contracted state when the electrode is being delivered to an implant site. At the implant site, the compressible member is expanded to urge the electrode into contact with tissue. Compressible member further includes a keyed structure to engage a stiffening member such as a stylet. The stiffening member is used both to deliver the electrode to the implant site, and to rotate the compressible member, if necessary, so that the electrode contacts predetermined body tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, an introducer having an inner lumen with a diameter that is smaller than that of the compressible member may be used to disengage the stiffening member from the compressible member. In one embodiment, compressible member includes a conductor wound to form multiple turns that are aligned during electrode delivery, but which expand into a non-aligned configuration after deployment. In another embodiment, compressible member includes a spring clip that has a compressed profile during delivery, and an expanded profile after deployment.

Medical electrical lead having an expandable electrode assembly

An improved system and method that is capable of delivering multiple electrode assemblies to predetermined implant sites within a body is disclosed. The system includes an elongated member such as an introducer sheath. The introducer includes an elongated channel along at least a distal end portion of the introducer. The elongated channel opens to the exterior surface of the introducer through an elongated slot. One or more electrode assemblies may be retained within the elongated channel such that the leads exit the introducer via the elongated slot. The elongated introducer further includes a lumen that is in fluid communication with channel through openings, or gaps. The electrode assemblies are loaded within the channel at predetermined positions with respect to the openings. A distal end of a stiffening member such as a stylet may then be advanced within the lumen and through a selected one of the openings to engage an electrode assembly. The distal end of the stylet, along with the electrode assembly, is pushed in a distal direction within the channel until the electrode assembly exits the channel at a predetermined implant site. The stylet is then de-coupled from the electrode assembly, and the distal end is again retracted into the lumen. The distal end of the stiffening member may be re-directed into a different opening to engage a second electrode assembly. After the introducer is repositioned at a second implant site, the second electrode assembly may be deployed in a manner similar to that discussed above. The process may be repeated to deploy an array of electrodes. According to one aspect of the invention, the stylet distal end is canted to extend from the lumen of the introducer into the channel.

System and method for placing a medical electrical lead

A method of and an apparatus for performing electrophysiological mapping of myocardial tissue. An electrode at a distal portion of a sensing catheter electrically contacts the tissue permitting the catheter to conduct a sensed signal to analysis and display equipment. The electrode is formed of a biocompatible metal. This basic structure is coated with a material with micro texturizes the electrode surface to increase the effective surface area without significantly increasing the electrode footprint.

Method and apparatus for electrophysiology catheter with enhanced sensing

An implantable defibrillator for treating cardiac dysrhythmias in a human patient in which the delivery of electrical defibrillation countershocks to a plurality of implanted electrodes is synchronized to predetermined aspect of an atrial portion of the cardiac signals sensed by the device. The defibrillator includes a sealed housing structure constructed of a biocompatible material containing a battery source of electrical energy and a capacitor system to store electrical energy provided by the battery source to generate high voltage electrical countershocks. A control system within the implantable defibrillator includes sensing circuitry that senses cardiac signals representative of a heart rate and detection circuitry that evaluates the cardiac signals to detect a ventricular fibrillation. The control system includes circuitry that operates to control the storing and discharge of electric energy in the capacity system through the plurality of implanted electrodes such that delivery of the electrical energy is synchronized to a predetermined aspect of an atrial portion of the cardiac signals that is a predetermined delay after the occurrence of a P-wave.

Implantable defibrillator with countershock synchronized to P-wave

Growing community of inventors

Andover, MN, United States of America

Roger W Dahl