# US 12,594,419 B2 · Implantable medical device lead with modular electrode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,419 B2 - Document ID: US12594419B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/312,478 - Filed: 2023-05-04 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-25 - Assignees: Pacesetter, Inc. - Applicants: Pacesetter, Inc. - Inventors: Bryan Teague; Kyle Nix; Xiangqun Chen; Joseph Lane Hansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594419B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0504: {Subcutaneous electrodes} - A61N 1/0563: {specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion} - A61N 1/3956: {Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A lead for an implantable medical device (IMD) includes an electrode having a plurality of brick segments that are discrete and mechanically connected to one another in a line. The brick segments are electrically conductive and electrically connected to one another. The brick segments are configured to be powered by a pulse generator of the IMD to deliver high-voltage shocks for defibrillation therapy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lead for an implantable medical device (IMD) comprising: an electrode comprising a plurality of brick segments that are discrete and mechanically connected to one another in a line, wherein the brick segments are electrically conductive and electrically connected to one another, wherein a distal end of a first brick segment of the electrode is connected to a proximal end of a second brick segment of the electrode at a first joint, and a proximal end of the first brick segment is connected to a distal end of a third brick segment of the electrode at a second joint, the brick segments configured to be powered by a pulse generator of the IMD to deliver high-voltage shocks for defibrillation therapy; and wherein the distal end of the first brick segment is connected to the proximal end of the second brick segment at the first joint via a first pin, and the proximal end of the first brick segment is connected to the distal end of the third brick segment at the second joint via a second pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises one or more support cables, wherein a first support cable of the one or more support cables extends along the first, second, and third brick segments and across the first and second joints and is affixed to each of the first, second, and third brick segments to secure the brick segments to one another in the line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lead of claim 2, further comprising a lead body extending from the electrode to the pulse generator, the lead body including at least one electrical wire electrically connected to the pulse generator and the electrode to convey electrical energy from the pulse generator to the electrode for delivering the high-voltage shocks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lead of claim 2, wherein the one or more support cables are electrically conductive and provide an electrically conductive pathway between the brick segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The lead of claim 2, wherein each of the brick segments defines a hollow cavity through a respective body of the brick segment, and the hollow cavities of the brick segments align to form a central channel of the electrode, wherein the one or more support cables are disposed within the central channel and affix to interior surfaces of the bodies of the brick segments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The lead of claim 2, wherein each of the brick segments has a body that has an oblong shape with first and second lateral portions, the body defining one of grooves or apertures through a length of the body at the first and second lateral portions configured to receive the one or more support cables therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lead of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the first brick segment nests within the proximal end of the second brick segment at the first joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lead of claim 7, wherein the first brick segment is pivotable relative to the second brick segment at the first joint. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lead of claim 1, wherein the brick segments include a first end piece at a proximal end of the electrode, a second end piece at a distal end of the electrode, and a plurality of middle pieces between the first and second end pieces in the line, wherein the middle pieces have a same size and shape as one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lead of claim 1, wherein each of the brick segments has an oblong cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lead of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a first electrode and the lead includes a second electrode configured to provide second high-voltage shocks for the defibrillation therapy, the second electrode disposed, along a length of the lead, between the first electrode and a proximal end of the lead, the proximal end configured to connect to the pulse generator of the IMD. ### Claim 12 A method of producing a lead for an implantable medical device (IMD), the method comprising: forming an electrode by mechanically connecting a plurality of brick segments to one another in a line, wherein the brick segments are discrete, electrically conductive, and electrically connected to one another, wherein a distal end of a first brick segment of the electrode is connected to a proximal end of a second brick segment of the electrode at a first joint, and a proximal end of the first brick segment is connected to a distal end of a third brick segment of the electrode at a second joint, the brick segments configured to be powered by a pulse generator of the IMD to deliver high-voltage shocks for defibrillation therapy, wherein the distal end of the first brick segment nests within the proximal end of the second brick segment at the first joint, and wherein the first brick segment is pivotable relative to the second brick segment at the first joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein forming the electrode comprises affixing one or more support cables, that extend along the brick segments, to the brick segments to secure the brick segments one another in the line, wherein the one or more support cables are affixed by extending a first support cable of the one or more support cables along the first, second, and third brick segments and across the first and second joints, and securing the first support cable to each of the first, second, and third brick segments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising securing a lead body to the electrode and electrically connecting the lead body to the electrode, the lead body including at least one electrical wire electrically connected to the pulse generator and configured to convey power from the pulse generator to the electrode for the defibrillation therapy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising welding the one or more support cables to the brick segments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising crimping the brick segments onto the one or more support cables to affix the one or more support cables to the brick segments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein forming the electrode comprises nesting the distal end of the first brick segment within the proximal end of the second brick segment at the first joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein each of the brick segments has an oblong cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising implanting the lead such that the electrode is disposed in a subcutaneous location within a patient. ### Claim 20 An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising: a pulse generator; and a lead comprising a lead body and an electrode, the lead body mechanically and electrically connected to both the pulse generator and the electrode, and extending from the pulse generator to the electrode, the electrode comprising a plurality of brick segments that are discrete and mechanically connected to one another in a line, wherein the brick segments are electrically conductive and electrically connected to one another, wherein a distal end of a first brick segment of the electrode is connected to a proximal end of a second brick segment of the electrode at a first joint, and the distal end of the first brick segment is nested within the proximal end of the second brick segment, wherein the distal end of the first brick segment nests within the proximal end of the second brick segment at the first joint; wherein the first brick segment is pivotable relative to the second brick segment at the first joint; wherein the pulse generator is configured to power the brick segments of the electrode, via the lead body, to deliver high-voltage shocks for defibrillation therapy.