US 8,620,458 B1Granted

Active fixation medical lead and related method and system

AssigneePacestter, Inc.

InventorsShimul Sengupta, Yougandh Chitre, Cheuk Tang

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An implantable medical lead of the invention comprises an electrically active helix electrode extendable and retractable relative to a distal tip of the lead, an electrically conductive mapping collar disposed at the lead's distal tip and a proximal end carrying an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly comprises a first terminal connected to the helix electrode and a second terminal separately connected to the mapping collar. An advantage of the independent helix electrode and mapping collar circuits is that the implanting physician can confirm from separate electrode impedance readings that the helix is in fact extended and fully embedded within the myocardium. Further, the independent mapping collar and helix electrode circuits may be used, in conjunction with a configurable or programmable switch network, to provide the implanting physician with a choice of electrode impedances.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A system for providing electrical stimulation to cardiac tissue and for sensing electrical signals generated by said tissue, the system comprising:

an implantable medical lead comprising:
a helix electrode extendable and retractable relative to a distal tip of the lead;
an electrically conductive mapping collar disposed at said distal tip;
and
an electrical connector assembly carried by a proximal end of the lead, the electrical connector assembly comprising a first terminal connected to the helix electrode and a second terminal separately connected to the mapping collar;
and
an IMD comprising:
a receptacle for receiving the connector assembly of the medical lead, the receptacle enclosing electrical contacts adapted to be engaged by the terminals on the electrical connector assembly;
electrical IMD circuitry;
and
a switch network interposed between said IMD circuitry and said receptacle contacts, said switch network being configurable to connect to the electrical IMD circuitry the helix electrode only, the collar electrode only, the series combination of the helix electrode and collar, or the parallel combination of the helix electrode and collar, whereby a range of electrode impedances is made available.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.