Implantable stimulus system having stimulus generator with pressure sensor and common lead for transmitting stimulus pulses to a body location and pressure signals from the body location to the stimulus generator

Abstract

A medical device system such as a pacemaker system is provided wherein pressure signals representative of a patient's cardiac movements are transmitted through a pacing lead to the pacemaker, where they are sensed and utilized for control of pacemaker operation. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes a standard pacing lead, which may already be in place within the patient, the lead having a lumen through which relative pressure signals are transmitted from the patient's heart to the proximal end of the lead. The proximal end of the lead is connected to a pressure sensor, mounted either in the pacemaker header portion or within the hermetically sealed pacemaker can. The sensor signals are coupled to appropriate processing circuitry and are used for control of one or more pacing parameters, such as pacing rate. In a first embodiment, the pressure sensor is mounted within the pacemaker header portion, and the electrical sensor signals are connected through an electrical feed-through to the interior of the pacemaker can. In a second embodiment, the sensor signals are passed through a capillary feed-through from the proximal end of the lead which is secured in the header portion, to the interior of the pacemaker can where the pressure sensor is mounted; the capillary feed-through may also conduct sensed heart signals from the proximal end of the lead to within the pacemaker.