Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/02—Details
  • A61N1/04—Electrodes
  • A61N1/05—Electrodes for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode
  • A61N1/056—Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
  • A61N1/057—Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/02—Details
  • A61N1/04—Electrodes
  • A61N1/05—Electrodes for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode
  • A61N1/0587—Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/02—Details
  • A61N1/04—Electrodes
  • A61N1/05—Electrodes for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode
  • A61N1/056—Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
  • A61N1/057—Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
  • A61N1/0573—Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook

Definitions

• the present teachings relates to methods and an implantable apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmia, particularly ventricular fibrillation. More particularly, the present teachings relate to methods and an implantable apparatus for cardiac ⁇ synchronization therapy to heart failure patients.
• pacing leads have been developed for endocardial implant, typically in the right ventricle (RV) or right atrial appendage, as well as the coronary sinus.
• These flexible leads usually are constructed having an outer polymeric sheath encasing one or more electrical conductors.
• One conductor is typically attached at its distal tip to the shank portion of a tip electrode.
• one or more further conductors are provided in coaxial or co-linear relation to the first conductor and is connected at its distal end to a more proximally located, ring-shaped electrodes situated along the lead body.
• the proximal ends of each conductor are coupled to a connector, which includes a single pin in unipolar leads, and additional pins or in-line rings in bipolar and multipolar leads.
• Stimulation in both single chamber and dual chamber pacemakers with ventricular stimulation normally takes place in the apex of the RV.
• a conventional pacemaker of this type typically requires two electrodes. One of these electrodes is placed in the right atrium (RA) and the other in the apex of the RV. The electrodes sense electrical activity in the heart and to provide stimulation pulses as needed to rectify arrhythmias.
• SA sinoatrial
• AV atrioventricular
• Purkinge fibers This provides a sequential activation of the atria and the ventricles. Specifically, the sequential polarization and depolarization of the atria and the ventricle results in a naturally synchronized sinus rhythm.
• ventricular pacing is to resynchronize the ventricular activation. This is mainly used in patients with heart failure (HF) who also have left bundle branch block (LBBB). LBBB causes a sequence of activation similar to that during RV apex pacing. In the LBBB patients, left ventricular (LV) or biventricular pacing (BiV) is used to resynchronize ventricular activation, with good results.
• LV left ventricular
• BiV biventricular pacing
• LV pacing sites may offer great advantages over RV pacing sites
• positioning of the leads is cumbersome.
• thoracotomy is used to position a lead at the LV wall, but this invasive procedure does not offer significant advantages over the transvenous approach.
• LV pacing leads are positioned in coronary veins, which can be difficult, time consuming, and not reliable because of lead displacement.
• individual heart anatomies differ widely, such that the preferred site could be difficult to locate for lead replacement.
• Recently a trans-atrial septal approach was introduced to enable LV endocardial pacing.
• the pacing lead is advanced from the right atrium through the right atrial septum wall into the left atrium and through the mitral valve into the LV cavity until a proper site at the LV endocardium is reached.
• a disadvantage with this approach is that a large part of the lead is permanently inside of the LV cavity.
• One of the many clinical concerns with the trans-atrial septal approach is Emboli originating from this lead may enter the systemic circulation giving rise to strokes.
• a lead system includes attachment means into the transventricular system to attach to a location in the LV.
• the lead system is introduced from the RV side and enables a more reliable site selection in the LV and provides a secure semi-exogenous lead attachment to the LV.
• FIG 1 shows a schematic view of liie general environment of implantable medical device ("IMD");
• Figure 2 shows a right perspective view of an embodiment of the pacing lead assembly for the present teachings;
• Figure 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of a lead body in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 4 shows an enlarged axial cross-sectional view of a distal end of a lead body in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 5 shows a trans-septal pacing approach using a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 6 shows a trans-myocardial pacing approach using a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 7 shows a heart wall penetration system for delivery of a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 8 shows a side profile of a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 9 shows a distal end profile of the pacing lead of Figure 8 in a unipolar embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 10 shows a distal end profile of the pacing lead of Figure 8 in a bipolar embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 11 shows a side profile of a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 12 shows a distal end profile of the pacing lead of Figure 11 in a unipolar embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 13 shows a distal end profile of the pacing lead of Figure 11 in a bipolar embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 14 shows a pacing lead during insertion in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 15 shows a pacing lead after insertion in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 16 shows a flowchart diagram of a method for pacing a heart in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 17 shows a pacing lead during insertion in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 18 shows a pacing lead after insertion in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 19 shows a flowchart diagram of a method of manufacturing a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings
• Figure 20 shows a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings.
• IMD 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a pacemaker comprising at least one of pacing and sensing leads 14, 22, 30, and 40 attached to hermetically sealed enclosure 11 and implanted near human or mammalian heart 12.
• Pacing and sensing leads 14, 22, 30, and 40 sense electrical signals attendant to the depolarization and re-polarization of heart 12, and further provide pacing pulses for causing depolarization of cardiac tissue in the vicinity of the distal ends thereof.
• Leads 14, 22, 30, and 40 may have unipolar or bipolar electrodes disposed thereon, as is well known in the art.
• Examples of IMD 10 include implantable cardiac pacemakers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
• Lead assembly 18 comprises guide catheter 20 and lead body 21.
• Lead body 21 is received by and fits slidingly within guide catheter 20.
• Hub 24 is located at the proximal end of guide catheter 20.
• Hemostasis valve 26 may be attached to the proximal end of hub 24. Removal of sealing cap 28 from neck 31 permits the introduction of saline solution, anticoagulants, and intravenously administered drugs through valve 26.
• the proximal end of valve 26 receives lead body 21 and guides it through hub 24 into guide catheter 20.
• Lead body 21 has a proximal end 36 with a connector 54 ( Figure 4) for establishing electrical connection between lead assembly 18, an IMD 10, and the tissue of heart 12.
• Electrically insulative outer sheath 50 is formed of biocompatible material such as a suitable polyurethane or silastic compound, and protects electrical conductor 54 disposed within lead body 21 from the corrosive effects presented by body fluids. Sheath 50 additionally prevents conductor 54 disposed within lead body 21 from shorting to the body. It is fully contemplated there can be more than one connector, as is discussed below, without departing from the spirit of the teachings.
• Conductor 54 can be three strands of left-hand- wound twisted MP35-N wire, and can be capable of reliably conducting electrical current after having been subjected to numerous, repeated bending and torquing stresses. However, conductor 54 may comprise a single wire formed of a nickel-titanium alloy such as nitinol. Lead body 21 has a diameter of about 3 French in some embodiments, but may have a diameter as great as about 4 French or as small as about 2 French. Conductor 54 is mechanically and electrically connected to electrode 66. Conductor 54 and electrode 66 can be connected by laser welding however other methods of connection are contemplated.
• Occlusion fabric 104 Operably coupled to electrode 66 is an occlusion fabric 104.
• Occlusion fabric 104 can be made of most any type of material as long as the material can be implanted within the body.
• occlusion fabric 104 could be made of Dacron.
• occlusion fabric 104 could be attached to electrode 66 in a plurality of ways, such as stitching fabric 104 to electrode 66 or fabric 104 could have pockets to receive the electrode 66. Regardless of how electrode 66 is coupled to fabric 104, it is beneficial for portions of the surface of electrode 66 to be exposed to provide good electrical conductivity to heart 12.
• a trans-septal pacing approach using a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown.
• the present teaching discloses positioning a pacing lead in heart 12 at septum 100 or at myocardial wall 102.
• a trans- septal pacing approach a standard transvenous entrance is used to advance lead 18 towards ventricular septum 100.
• the same transvenous entrance would be used to advance a pacing lead 19 to the base of right ventricle 106 to pace the right ventricle as is know in the art. From there lead 18 penetrates ventricular septum 100 until the lead protrudes into the LV cavity.
• lead 18 is withdrawn, until electrode 66 is against the left septal endocardium 100 and occlusion fabric 104 operably coupled to electrode 66 rests against the left septal endocardium blocking the hole created during penetration of ventricular septum 100 by lead 18.
• This arrangement places the lead in an embedded position in the transventricular system, which enables sensing, detection, and pacing in the LV.
• the lower part of the LV septum is substantially the general location where activation starts in the normal heartbeat. With trans-septal pacing the electrical impulse will presumably spread from the septal apex to the base, from endocardium to epicardium and cause the LV side of the septum to be activated before the RV.
• trans-septal pacing combines a relatively easy implantation procedure with minimal risk for formation of emboli and with a sequence of activation similar to the normal activation pattern. The latter will result in optimal LV ejection fraction and minimized remodeling as compared to RV apex pacing.
• trans-myocardial pacing approach using a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown.
• a trans-myocardial pacing approach a standard surgical procedure is used to advance lead 18 towards ventricular myocardial wall 102. From there lead 18 penetrates ventricular wall 102 until the lead enters the LV cavity. Then lead 18 is withdrawn, until electrode 66 is against the left septal endocardium and an occlusion fabric 104 operably coupled to electrode 66 rests against the left septal endocardium blocking the puncture created during penetration of the ventricular septum by lead 18.
• FIG. 7 a heart wall penetration system for delivery of a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown. Penetration of septum
• a stiff, curved guide catheter 108 can be positioned into right ventricle 106 or close to ventricular wall 102. Through catheter 104 a force can be applied to penetrate ventricular septum 100 or ventricular wall 102. As discussed above, however, penetration of septum 100 or heart wall 102 can be accomplished in a plurality of ways such as by advancing a sharp steel wire, thus creating a hole, then withdrawing the wire and introducing the pacing lead through the hole, with a pacing lead having a sharp tip, or by placing a stiffening stylet in a pacing lead that makes the lead stiff enough to penetrate the heart wall.
• a pacing lead in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown.
• lead 18 comprises lead body 21, conductor 54, electrode 66, and occlusion fabric 104.
• electrode 66 provides a cambered fabric support 70 comprising a center portion 72 and legs 74, which extend out from center portion 72 in a cambered fashion.
• This cambered form allows occlusion fabric 104 to take the shape of an collapsible canopy, which assists in occluding the puncture in the heart wall created by catheter 108.
• electrode 66 is made of a flexible, strong, and electrically conductive material such as MP35N. This allows legs 74 to be compressed against body 21 when inside of the insertion catheter 108, expand to its cambered form upon exiting catheter 108, and expand further outward when electrode
• FIG. 9 shows a unipolar configuration where electrode 66 has a single polarity.
• Figure 10 shows a bipolar lead configuration where electrodes 67 and 68 have opposite polarities or one of the two is used to sense electrical activity. Electrode 67 and 68 still provide a cambered fabric support 70 comprising a center portion 76 and legs 78.
• electrode 80 provides a cambered fabric support 82 comprising a center portion 84 and legs 86, which extend out from center portion 84 in a cambered fashion.
• occlusion fabric 104 has a leaflet shape.
• Figure 12 shows a unipolar configuration where electrode 80 has a single polarity.
• Figure 13 shows a bipolar lead configuration where electrodes 88 and 90 have opposite polarities or one of the two is used to sense electrical activity. Electrode 88 and 90 still provide a cambered fabric support 82 comprising a center portion 92 and legs 94.
• a pacing lead during insertion and implantation as well as a method for pacing in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown.
• catheter 108 is used to create a hole 200 through ventricular walls 100 or 102 (step 300).
• catheter 108 reaches the left ventricle 107 (step 302) the clinician would push lead 18 through catheter 108 into left ventricle 107 (step 304) and remove catheter 108.
• Cambered support structure 70 then expands in an collapsible canopy shape.
• Lead 18 can then be retracted (step 306) so that cambered support structure 70 further expands as shown in Figure 15 to seal off hole 200.
• tines 202 which are covered by fabric 104 during insertion, pop out when the collapsible canopy unfolds and allow the clinician to retract lead 18 to back electrode 66 against inner wall 100 or 102, but prevent the clinician from pushing the electrode back into the ventricle again thus anchoring lead 18. It is further contemplated tines 202 could be connected to a conductor to act as an electrode thus providing bipolar pacing.
• pacemaker 10 could then detect any heart abnormalities and provide a pacing therapy if necessary (state 308).
• a pacing lead during insertion and implantation in an embodiment of the present teachings is shown.
• Lead 18 is formed with a serrated edge 212 to provide another anchoring structure.
• a fixation ring 220/222 can be slid down over lead 18 to serrated edge 212.
• Fixation ring 220/222 is then slid over serrated edge 212 until it abuts right ventricle wall 230.
• Fixation rings 220/222 can be pushed towards the distal end of lead 18; however, serrated edge 212 prevents fixation rings 220/222 from being pulled back towards the proximal end of lead 18. Therefore, fixation rings 220/222 is combination with serrated edge 212 act similar to a tie strap in that fixation rings 220/222 lock in place to prevent lead 18 from being pushed into left ventricle 107. Over time scar tissue would grow over occlusion fabric 104 thus assisting in holding fabric 104 over hole 200. Additionally, fixation ring 222 has eyelets 224 which allow for a clinician to suture fixation ring to heart 12 when using a trans- myocardial implantation approach.
• lead 18 can have a lead body 21 formed of an electrically insulative outer sheath 50 of biocompatible material such as a suitable polyurethane or silastic compound (step 400).
• Lead body 21 protects electrical conductor 54 disposed' within lead body 21 from the corrosive effects presented by body fluids.
• Conductor 54 is mechanically and electrically connected to electrode 66 (step 402).
• Operably coupled to electrode 66 is an occlusion fabric 104 (step 404).
• Occlusion fabric 104 could be attached to electrode 66 in a plurality of ways, such as stitching fabric 104 to electrode 66 or fabric 104 could have pockets to receive the electrode 66.
• Lead body 500 is formed of a biocompatible material such as silicon rubber or polyurethane.
• Lead body 500 can have electrodes 502 and 504, which can be operably coupled to electrode 506 and 508 respectively.
• Electrodes 506 and 508 could be formed of a flexible, elastically deformable material such as near-stoichiometric nickel/titanium alloy, commonly referred to as Nitinol or NiTi. Such superelastic materials may be elastically deformed to a much greater extent than most other materials, yet substantially fully recover their original shape when released.
• Electrodes 506 and 508 This permits electrodes 506 and 508 to be deformed sufficiently for insertion into, and passage through, a small-diameter catheter yet automatically elastically returns to its initial shape upon exiting the catheter.
• a strip of insulation 510 is placed between electrodes 506 and 508 and acts to electrically separate electrodes 506 and 508, but insulation 510 also acts to occlude hole 200 during implantation of lead 501.
• Insulation 510 can be made of most any insulative material such as Dacron and, like electrodes 506 and 508, is relatively elastic so it can be compressed when within a catheter and yet fully expand when removed from the catheter during installation.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-31 US US11/096,510 patent/US7321798B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-03-30 JP JP2008504419A patent/JP4850899B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-03-30 EP EP06740193A patent/EP1885435B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-03-30 CA CA002600413A patent/CA2600413A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-30 WO PCT/US2006/011899 patent/WO2006105395A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-03-30 DE DE602006021737T patent/DE602006021737D1/de active Active
  • 2006-03-30 AT AT06740193T patent/ATE507870T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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