US5645580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable medical device lead assembly having high efficiency, flexible electrode head
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
•
Filing: 1994-07-21
•
Granted: 1997-07-08
•
Expires: 2014-07-21
Abstract
Abstract An implantable medical device lead assembly has an electrode head including a flexible tip of elastomeric material embedding at least one rigid or flexible electrode. The at least one electrode and the elastomeric material define a curved tip surface adapted to contact the tissue to be stimulated. The compliance of the tip surface preferably approaches that of the body tissue to be stimulated so as to minimize the stress applied to the heart thereby reducing the adverse reaction of the heart to the presence of the electrode head. By way of example, the at least one electrode may take the form of a metallic or conductive polymer pin or may be made of wire. The elastomeric material may take the form of an envelope disposed about the electrode head and having formed integrally therewith anchoring means preferably comprising a plurality of pliant tines.
Inventors
- 👤 Shawn Moaddeb
- 👤 John R. Helland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A lead assembly adapted to transmit electrical signals between an implantable medical device and selected body tissue, the lead assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and an electrode head forming said distal end, the electrode head being a unitary soft flexible elastomeric structure having a tip surface portion for contacting selected body tissue and at least one electrically conductive electrode in electrical communication with the medical device and extending within the electrode head to the tip surface portion thereof for making electrical contact with the selected body tissue; and the electrode head further including anchoring means projecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A lead assembly adapted to transmit electrical signals between an implantable medical device and selected body tissue, the lead assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and an electrode head forming said distal end, the electrode head being a unitary soft flexible elastomeric structure having a tip surface portion for contacting selected body tissue and at least one electrically conductive electrode in electrical communication with the medical device and extending within the electrode head to the tip surface portion thereof for making electrical contact with the selected body tissue; and the electrode head further including anchoring means projecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the stiffness of the tip surface portion is approximately the same as that of the selected body tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the at least one electrode is made of metal or conductive ceramic or conductive oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: the at least one electrode is in the form of a pin electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the at least one electrode is flexible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 5, in which: the at least one electrode is in the form of a flexible wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 6, in which: the at least one wire electrode has a coiled or braided configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 5, in which: the at least one electrode is fabricated of a conductive polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the electrode head has a longitudinal axis and the at least one electrode has an annular configuration substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: said at least one electrode has an end surface and the tip surface portion of the electrode head is curved, the end surface of said at least one electrode conforming to the curvature of the tip surface portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the end surface of said at least one electrode comprises a roughened end surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the end surface of said at least one electrode comprises a textured end surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein: the area of the end surface of said at least one electrode includes a coating of conductive particulate matter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein: the area of the end surface of said at least one electrode includes a coating with a material selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride, titanium oxide, iridium oxide, platinum black and carbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the tip surface portion is coated with a therapeutic agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the elastomeric portion of the tip surface portion includes recesses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 16, in which: the recesses contain at least one therapeutic agent for delivery to the selected body tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the tip surface portion includes at least one groove formed therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 18, in which: the at least one groove in the tip surface portion contains at least one therapeutic agent for delivery to the selected body tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 1, in which: the electrode head has an outer surface and the anchoring means are adapted to fold against a portion of the outer surface of the electrode head, said portion of said outer surface of said electrode head being recessed to receive the anchoring means whereby the frontal area of the electrode head is reduced.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 20, in which: the anchoring means comprises a plurality of compliant tines formed integrally with the electrode head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 21, in which: each tine has a cross-section configured to minimize said frontal area.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
141 words
A lead assembly having a proximal end adapted to be connected to an implantable medical device for stimulating selected body tissue comprising heart tissue, a distal end and an electrical conductor connecting said proximal and distal ends, the distal end having an electrode head being a unitary compliant elastomeric structure, the electrode head comprising: an electrically conductive base having a proximal end coupled to said electrical conductor, and a distal end; a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes connected to and projecting from the distal end of the base; the electrode head defining a tip surface adapted to contact the selected body tissue to be stimulated, the tip surface being compliant for flexing under the action of heartbeats for reducing stress on heart tissue; and anchoring means protecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
141 words
A lead assembly having a proximal end adapted to be connected to an implantable medical device for stimulating selected body tissue comprising heart tissue, a distal end and an electrical conductor connecting said proximal and distal ends, the distal end having an electrode head being a unitary compliant elastomeric structure, the electrode head comprising: an electrically conductive base having a proximal end coupled to said electrical conductor, and a distal end; a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes connected to and projecting from the distal end of the base; the electrode head defining a tip surface adapted to contact the selected body tissue to be stimulated, the tip surface being compliant for flexing under the action of heartbeats for reducing stress on heart tissue; and anchoring means protecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 23, in which: the stiffness of the tip surface is approximately equal to that of the selected body tissue to be stimulated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 23, in which: the electrodes are made of metal or conductive ceramic or conductive oxide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 25, in which: each electrode is in the form of a pin electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 23, in which: the electrodes are flexible.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 27, in which: each electrode is made of wire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 28, in which: the wire comprising each electrode is coiled or braided.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 27, in which: each electrode is fabricated of a conductive polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 23, in which: the tip surface of the electrode head is curved; and each of said electrodes has an end surface configured to conform to the curvature of the tip surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 23, in which: the electrode head has an outer surface and the anchoring means are adapted to fold against a portion of the outer surface of the electrode head, said portion of said outer surface of said electrode head being recessed to receive the anchoring means whereby the frontal area of the electrode head is reduced.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 32, in which: the anchoring means comprises a plurality of compliant tines formed integrally with the electrode head.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lead assembly as defined in claim 33, in which: each tine has a cross-section configured to minimize said frontal area.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
124 words
An electrode head adapted to be connected to the distal end of an implantable medical device lead assembly, the electrode head comprising: an electrically conductive base having a distal end; at least one electrode connected to and projecting from the distal end of the base; the electrode head being formed of a unitary flexible elastomeric material in which said at least one electrode is embedded and defining therewith a flexible tip surface configured to contact selected body tissue to be stimulated by the implantable medical device, the tip surface flexing in response to relative motion of the body tissue for reducing stress on the body tissue; and anchoring means projecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
124 words
An electrode head adapted to be connected to the distal end of an implantable medical device lead assembly, the electrode head comprising: an electrically conductive base having a distal end; at least one electrode connected to and projecting from the distal end of the base; the electrode head being formed of a unitary flexible elastomeric material in which said at least one electrode is embedded and defining therewith a flexible tip surface configured to contact selected body tissue to be stimulated by the implantable medical device, the tip surface flexing in response to relative motion of the body tissue for reducing stress on the body tissue; and anchoring means projecting from the electrode head for anchoring the electrode head to the selected body tissue.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 35, in which: the elastomeric material is a soft polymer of polyurethane or silicone elastomer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 36, in which: the stiffness of the tip surface is approximately the same as that of the body tissue.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 35, in which: the at least one electrode is made of metal or conductive ceramic or conductive oxide.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 35, in which: the at least one electrode is made of a conductive, flexible material.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 35 in which: the anchoring means comprises a plurality of compliant tines formed integrally with the electrode head.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 40, in which: the electrode head has an outer surface and the tines are adapted to fold against a portion of the outer surface of the electrode head, said portion of said outer portion of said electrode head being recessed to receive the tines whereby the frontal area of the electrode head is reduced.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrode head as defined in claim 41, in which: each tine has a cross-section configured to minimize said frontal area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |