Medical electrode lead with atrial electrode at the distal and ventricular electrode between the distal and proximal ends

An electrode system implantable in a heart comprising:

• an insulated electrode lead having a proximal end adapted for mechanical and electrical connection at an implantation site to a medical electrical apparatus, said proximal end having an electrical contact and said electrode lead having a distal end opposite said proximal end;
• an atrial electrode carried on said electrode lead at said distal end for electrical interaction with tissue in an atrium of a heart;
• an electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said atrial electrode and said electrical contact at said proximal end;
• and
• said electrode lead having a length for causing a portion of said electrode lead to form a loop in a ventricle of a heart when said atrial electrode is disposed in said atrium of said heart and said proximal end is disposed at said implantation site, said loop having a pre-bent semicircular curvature at a distance in a range of from 1 to 15 cm from said distal end of said electrode lead.

A system for pacing a heart comprising:

• an implantable pacemaker operable in a DDD mode and having a connection location;
• an electrode lead having a proximal end connected at said connection location to said pacemaker, and having a distal end opposite said proximal end;
• an atrial electrode for electrical interaction with tissue in an atrium of a heart;
• a ventricular electrode for electrical interaction with tissue in a ventricle of said heart;
• said atrial electrode and said ventricular electrode being carried on said electrode lead in-line with each other with said ventricular electrode preceding said atrial electrode in a direction from said proximal end to said distal end;
• and
• means for respectively electrically connecting said atrial electrode and said ventricular electrode to said pacemaker via said proximal end of said electrode lead.

A method for implanting a medical electrode lead in a heart comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrode lead having a proximal end adapted for mechanical and electrical connection to a medical electrical apparatus and having a distal end opposite said proximal end;
• disposing an atrial electrode, adapted for interaction with atrial tissue of a heart, at said distal end of said electrode lead;
• inserting said electrode lead into said heart so that said atrial electrode is disposed in an atrium of said heart and inserting a length of said electrode lead through the tricuspid valve in said heart into a ventricle of said heart and forming a loop of said length of said electrode lead in said ventricle;
• mechanically and electrically connecting said proximal end of said electrode lead to a medical electrical apparatus while leaving said loop in said ventricle;
• and
• implanting said medical electrical apparatus.

A medical system implantable in a living subject comprising:

• a housing adapted for a implantation in a living subject, said housing containing an atrial stimulation pulse generator for generating pulses for stimulating an atrium of a heart of said subject;
• a ventricular stimulation pulse generator for generating pulses for stimulating an ventricle of said heart;
• an insulated electrode lead having a proximal end adapted for electrical end mechanical connection to said housing, said proximal end having a first electrical contact electrically connected to said atrial stimulation pulse generator and a second electrical contact electrically connected to said ventricular stimulation pulse generator, and said electrode lead having a distal end opposite said proximal end;
• an atrial electrode carried on said electrode lead for electrical interaction with tissue in the atrium of said heart;
• a first electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said atrial electrode and said first electrical contact;
• a ventricular electrode carried on said electrode lead for electrical interaction with tissue in the ventricle of said heart;
• a second electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said ventricular electrode and said second electrical contact;
• and
• said atrial electrode being disposed at said distal end of said electrode lead and said ventricular electrode being disposed in-line between said atrial electrode and said proximal end of said electrode lead at a distance in a range of 1 to 15 cm from said distal end of said electrode lead.

A medical system as claimed in 32 further comprising:

• a defribillation/cardioversion pulse generator contained in said housing for generating pulses for defribillating or cardioverting said heart;
• a defribillation contact at said proximal end of said electrode lead electrically connected to said defribillation/cardioversion pulse generator;
• a defribillation electrode carried on said electrode lead in-line with said atrial electrode and said ventricular electrode;
• and
• a defribillation conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said defribillation electrode and said defribillation contact.

An electrode system implantable in a heart comprising:

• an insulated electrode lead having a proximal end adapted for electrical and mechanical connection to a medical electrical apparatus, said proximal and having first, second and third electrical contacts, and said electrode lead a having distal end opposite said proximal end;
• an atrial electrode carried on electrode lead for electrical interaction with tissue in an atrium of a heart;
• a first electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said atrial electrode and said first contact;
• a ventricular electrode carried on said electrode lead for electrical interaction with tissue in a ventricle of said heart;
• a second electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said ventricular electrode and said second contact;
• a defribillation electrode carried on said electrode lead;
• a third electrode conductor contained in said electrode lead and electrically connecting said defribillation electrode and said third contact;
• and
• said atrial electrode being disposed at said distal end of said electrode lead and said ventricular electrode and said defribillation electrode being disposed in-line between said atrial electrode and said proximal end of said electrode lead, said ventricular electrode being disposed at a distance in a range of 1 to 15 cm from said distal end of said electrode lead.