Intracardiac defibrillation leads

US6178355A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Terrell M. Williams · Brooklyn Park, US
• Peter M. J. Mulier · Stillwater, US
• John G. Keimel · New Brighton, US
• Timothy G. Laske · Shoreview, US
• Gregory A. Boser · Richfield, US
• Mary M. Morris · Shoreview, US
• Xiaoyi Min · Thousand Oaks, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/0563
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A lead and a lead system for dispersion of a cardioversion/defibrillation electrode formed of one or more small diameter defibrillation electrodes in a heart chamber and for attaching a pace/sense electrode in contact with the heart. The small diameter defibrillation electrode or electrodes extend distally from the distal end of the lead body. If multiple electrodes are employed, they are preferably biased to spread apart when unrestrained and have a cross-section size small enough to be inserted into interstices of trabeculae in the ventricular chamber. The distal ends of the defibrillation electrodes may be free of attachment to the lead body or may be attached by a weak bond to the distal portion of the lead.