Implantable heart stimulator with electrodes for an infection control current

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator and an electrode lead connected thereto for delivering electrical stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient, said pulse generator having an electrically conductive housing;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion which, after implantation of said electrode lead, is configured to extend substantially from the housing to a location situated beyond entry of the electrode lead into the venous system and before entry of the electrode lead into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface;
• and
• an extracorporeal current source, and an inductive coupling arrangement to inductively couple said extracorporeal current source with said housing and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead supplying an infection control current between said housing and said electrically conductive surface of said proximal portion of said electrode lead for counteracting bacterial growth at least on an exterior of said housing.

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator which generates electrical stimulation pulses;
• an electrically conductive housing containing said pulse generator and having a connector header;
• an electrode lead mechanically and electrically connected in said header, and thereby connected to said pulse generator, for delivering said stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient;
• said header having an exterior surface that is entirely electrically conductive;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion extending substantially from said housing to a location, after implantation of said electrode lead, adapted to be situated beyond entry into the venous system and before entry into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface thereon;
• a current source which supplies an infection control current in a flowpath including at least two of said housing, said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said header and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead, to counteract bacterial growth at least one an exterior of said housing;
• and
• at least one of said electrically conductive surface on the exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead and said exterior electrically conductive surface of said connector header being formed by an electrically conducting polymer.

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator which generates electrical stimulation pulses;
• an electrically conductive housing containing said pulse generator and having a connector header;
• an electrode lead mechanically and electrically connected in said header, and thereby connected to said pulse generator, for delivering said stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient;
• said header having an exterior surface that is entirely electrically conductive surface;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion extending substantially from said housing to a location, after implantation of said electrode lead, adapted to be situated beyond entry into the venous system and before entry into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface thereon;
• a current source which supplies an infection control current in a flowpath including at least two of said housing, said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said header and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead, to counteract bacterial growth at least one an exterior of said housing;
• and
• at least one of said electrically conductive surface on the exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead and said exterior electrically conductive surface of said connector header being formed by an ion implantation.

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator which generates electrical stimulation pulses;
• an electrically conductive housing containing said pulse generator and having a connector header;
• an electrode lead mechanically and electrically connected in said header, and thereby connected to said pulse generator, for delivering said stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient;
• said header having an exterior surface that is entirely electrically conductive surface;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion extending substantially from said housing to a location, after implantation of said electrode lead, adapted to be situated beyond entry into the venous system and before entry into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface thereon;
• and
• a current source which supplies an infection control current in a flowpath including at least two of said housing, said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said header and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead, to counteract bacterial growth at least one an exterior of said housing;
• and
• at least one of said electrically conductive surface on the exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead and said exterior electrically conductive surface of said connector header being formed by ion beam assisted deposition.

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator which generates electrical stimulation pulses;
• an electrically conductive housing containing said pulse generator and having a connector header;
• an electrode lead mechanically and electrically connected in said header, and thereby connected to said pulse generator, for delivering said stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient;
• said header having an exterior surface that is entirely electrically conductive surface;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion extending substantially from said housing to a location, after implantation of said electrode lead, adapted to be situated beyond entry into the venous system and before entry into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface thereon;
• and
• a current source which supplies an infection control current in a flowpath including at least two of said housing, said exterior electrically conductive surface of said header and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead, to counteract bacterial growth at least one an exterior of said housing;
• and
• at least one of said electrically conductive surface on the exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead and said exterior electrically conductive surface of said connector header being formed by a coating process selected from the group consisting of vapor deposition and sputtering.

An implantable heart stimulator comprising:

• a pulse generator which generates electrical stimulation pulses;
• an electrically conductive housing containing said pulse generator and having a connector header;
• an electrode lead mechanically and electrically connected in said header, and thereby connected to said pulse generator, for delivering said stimulation pulses to a heart of a patient;
• said header having an exterior surface that is entirely electrically conductive;
• said electrode lead having a proximal portion extending substantially from said housing to a location, after implantation of said electrode lead, adapted to be situated beyond entry into the venous system and before entry into the superior vena cava, said proximal portion having an exterior with an electrically conductive surface thereon;
• and
• a current source which supplies an infection control current in a flowpath including at least two of said housing, said exterior electrically conductive surface of said header and said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead, to counteract bacterial growth at least one an exterior of said housing;
• and
• said electrically conductive exterior surface of said connector header being electrically isolated from said electrically conductive surface on said exterior of said proximal portion of said electrode lead.