Early warning for lead insulation failure
AssigneePacesetter, Inc.
InventorsGene A. Bornzin, Mark W. Kroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary implantable device includes a microcontroller programmed to control delivery of cardiac therapy, a connector capable of making an electrical connection to an insulated conductor associated with an exposed electrode and a circuit connected to the conductor to measure an electrical half-cell potential of the electrode via the conductor and to signal the microcontroller if a defect occurs with respect to the insulated conductor. Such a defect may be an insulation defect and/or a conductor defect. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
Claims12
A method comprising:
- determining a potential difference between a first half-cell potential associated with a first electrode composed of a first material in contact with a conductive fluid or tissue and a second half-cell potential associated with a second electrode composed of a second material in contact with a conductive fluid or tissue, wherein the second material is different from the first material;
- and
- altering a cardiac therapy if the difference falls below a predetermined limit.
A method comprising:
- determining a half-cell potential associated with an electrode composed of a material in contact with a conductive fluid or tissue;
- altering a cardiac therapy if the half-cell potential falls below a predetermined limit;
- and further comprising
- determining that a defect exists in insulation that insulates a conductor associated with the electrode if the half-cell potential falls below a predetermined limit.
A method comprising:
- determining a half-cell potential associated with an electrode composed of a material in contact with a conductive fluid or tissue;
- altering a cardiac therapy if the half-cell potential falls below a predetermined limit;
- and
- further comprising determining that a defect exists in a conductor connected to an electrode if the half-cell potential falls below a predetermined limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.