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US 2001/0037134 A1Published application
Method of making a stimulator electrode with a conductive polymer coating
AssigneeIntermedics, Inc.
InventorM. Zafar Amin Munshi
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AssigneeIntermedics, Inc.
InventorM. Zafar Amin Munshi
Estimating the term…
An ionically conductive polymeric composition for coating a hot can defibrillator electrode is disclosed. A polymeric coating, such as polyethylene oxide containing NaCl or a similar ionic medium, coats and fills the pores of a high surface area electrode to provide a continuous ionic network from the can to the adjacent body tissue. In certain embodiments, the underlying high surface area, porous electrode is made by chemically etching a smooth electrode surface, such as that of a conventional titanium housing, followed by applying a thin coating of a noble metal such as platinum. In other embodiments, a noble metal or an oxide thereof, such as platinum black or iridium oxide, is applied to a titanium housing to form a porous, high surface area electrode. The conductive polymeric coating is then applied over the porous noble metal or metal oxide. The electrically conductive polymeric material is biocompatible, chemically and mechanically stable and does not dissolve or leach out over the useful lifetime of the defibrillator. A hot can defibrillator employing the new polymeric coating avoids development of high polarization at the can/tissue interface and maintains a more uniform defibrillation threshold than conventional implantable defibrillators, thus increasing the feasibility of pectoral implantation, particularly in a “dry pocket” environment.
An ionically conductive polymeric composition for coating an implantable cardiac stimulus electrode comprising a polymer and an ionic medium admixed with said polymer, said polymer having a molecular weight large enough to avoid solubilization of the polymer or the ionic medium when an electrode coated with said composition is used for its intended purpose.
An electrode for a cardiac stimulator comprising:
An electrode for a cardiac stimulator comprising:
An implantable cardiac stimulator comprising:
A method of making an implantable cardiac stimulator comprising:
An improved method of making an implantable cardiac stimulator having one of the stimulation electrodes on a titanium housing, wherein the improvement consists of:
An improved method of making an implantable cardiac stimulator having one of the stimulation electrodes on a titanium housing, said one electrode having a porous surface structure, wherein the improvement consists of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.