US 7941226 B2
A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging.
1. A medical device lead comprising:
a lead body;
a first conductive electrode;
an electrode shaft disposed inside of the lead body and coupled to the first electrode;
a second conductive electrode; and
a magnetostrictive element coupled between the electrode shaft and the second electrode, wherein the magnetostrictive element expands to contact the electrode shaft to the second electrode when exposed to a magnetic field to dissipate at least a portion of an electric current induced in the lead by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device via the second electrode.
2. The medical device lead of
3. The medical device lead of
a conductive element; and
an insulating material that covers at least an outside portion of the conductive element.
4. The medical device lead of
5. The medical device lead of
6. The medical device lead of
7. A method of forming a medical electrical lead comprising:
providing a lead body;
coupling a magnetostrictive element to an electrode shaft; and
inserting the magnetostrictive element and the electrode shaft into the lead body such that the electrode shaft is electrically coupled to a first electrode and the magnetostrictive element is located between the electrode shaft and a second electrode such that the magnetostrictive element expands to contact the electrode shaft to the second electrode when exposed to a magnetic field to dissipate at least a portion of an electric current induced in the lead by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.
8. The method of
9. A medical device system comprising:
an implantable medical device that includes:
a housing, and
electrical components within the housing that generate electrical stimulation therapy; and
an electrical stimulation lead that includes:
a lead body,
a first conductive electrode located at a distal end of the leady body,
a conductive electrode shaft within the leady body and electrically coupled to the electrode,
a coiled conductor within the lead body and electrically coupled to the electrode shaft, wherein a proximal end of the lead body is configured to electrically couple the coiled conductor to the electrical components of the implantable medical device,
a second conductive electrode
a magnetostrictive element coupled between the electrode shaft and the second electrode, wherein the magnetostrictive element expands to contact the electrode shaft to the second electrode when exposed to a magnetic field to dissipate at least a portion of an electric current induced in the coiled conductor by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device via the second electrode.
10. The medical device system of
11. The medical device system of
12. The medical device system of
13. The medical device system of
a conductive element; and
an insulating material that covers at least an outside portion of the conductive element.
The present invention is a related to another application entitled MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION LEADS, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/741,601, filed Apr. 27, 2007.
The invention relates to medical devices and, more particularly, to implantable medical device leads for use with implantable medical devices (IMDs).
In the medical field, implantable leads are used with a wide variety of medical devices. For example, implantable leads are commonly used to form part of implantable cardiac pacemakers that provide therapeutic stimulation to the heart by delivering pacing, cardioversion or defibrillation pulses. The pulses can be delivered to the heart via electrodes disposed on the leads, e.g., typically near distal ends of the leads. In that case, the leads may position the electrodes with respect to various cardiac locations so that the pacemaker can deliver pulses to the appropriate locations. Leads are also used for sensing purposes, or for both sensing and stimulation purposes. Implantable leads are also used in neurological devices, muscular stimulation therapy, and devices that sense chemical conditions in a patient's blood, gastric system stimulators.
Occasionally, patients that have implantable leads may benefit from a magnet resonance image being taken of a particular area of his or her body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques achieve a more effective image of the soft tissues of the heart and vascular system. MRI procedures can also image these features without delivering a high dosage of radiation to the body of the patient, and as a result, MRI procedures may be repeated reliably and safely. However, MRI devices may operate at frequencies of 10 megahertz or higher, which may cause energy to be transferred to the lead. In particular, the high frequency fields induce a voltage in the lead, causing the higher potential of the lead to damage the tissue that surrounds the tip electrode of the lead.
Aspects and features of the present invention will be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is directed to a medical lead, techniques for manufacturing such a lead, and systems that include a medical device coupled to a medical lead according to the present invention. The medical device lead includes a lead body, and electrode shaft and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element, coupled to an electrode shaft, serves as an “on/off” switch to manage high frequency signals RF signals (e.g. 21 megaHertz (Mhz) to 128 MHz) generated from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine away from the tip electrode. The switch is comprised of a magnetostrictive element made of any suitable material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. Exemplary magnetostrictive material includes terfenol-D or galfenol. Magnetostriction is a property that causes certain ferromagnetic materials to change shape in response to a magnetic field. In particular, the magnetostrictive element expands or contracts. When the lead is not exposed to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the magnetostrictive material is contracted. In contrast, when the lead is exposed to MRI, the magnetostrictive material expands. In one embodiment, expansion of the magnetostrictive material causes a first segment to move away from a second segment of the electrode shaft. A gap is created between the first and second segments of the electrode shaft. Therefore, current, induced in the lead due to exposure to the MRI, no longer has a direct electrical path to the tip electrode. Instead, the electrical current induced by high frequency passes through a high impedance component such as a radiofrequency (RF) trap, whereas the low frequency current for sensing and/or pacing is able to pass to and/or from the electrode tip. Consequently, a patient with a medical lead may undergo an MRI procedure without significantly affecting the operation of the medical lead.
In another embodiment, magnetostrictive material is disposed in or near conductive rings that are coupled to the electrode shaft. When the lead is exposed to MRI, the magnetostrictive material expands to create a contact to an additional electrode surface, which allows the induced current to dissipate over a larger surface area. In one embodiment, a tenfold (i.e. 10×) larger surface area ratio results in about tenfold lower temperatures at the tip electrode assuming a ring electrode has low impedance at high frequencies.
Sleeve head 201 (optionally, a RF-shunted sleeve head) is electrically connected to a conductive electrode shaft 203 (e.g. platinum etc.) via two parallel conductive rings 224 (e.g. C-rings etc.) a conductive sealer 212 (also referred to as a sealing washer), and a magnetostrictive element 215 insulated with insulative layer 260. Insulative layer 260 is comprised of, for example, hydrolytically stable polyimide. At a proximal end 206 of electrode assembly 200, coil 230 is electrically coupled to conductive electrode shaft 203. In another embodiment, electrode shaft 203 is made of nonconductive polymeric material.
Sleeve head 201 comprises a conductive element 202 surrounded or at least partially covered by an insulating material 204 (also referred to as a dielectric material). In one embodiment, conductive element 202 is cylindrically shaped (e.g. ring, etc.) or may possess other suitable shapes. Exemplary dimensions for conductive element 202 include a diameter of about 6.5 French (Fr.) by about 9 millimeters (mm) in length, an outer diameter of about 82 mils and an inner diameter of about 62 mils. Conductive element 202, in one embodiment, includes an increased diameter at the distal end and a reduced diameter at the proximal end of the conductive element 202. The surface area of conductive element 202 is about 60 mm2 which is much larger than the 5.5 mm2 surface area of electrode 207. Conductive element 202 comprises materials that are chemically stable, biocompatible, and x-ray transparent. Exemplary material used to form conductive element 202 includes titanium, titanium alloy, conductive polymers, and/or other suitable materials.
Conductive sealer 212 conducts current and also prevents fluid from passing through lumen 246. Referring to
Conductive sealer 212 comprises a polymer and a conductive polymer such as a conductive powder (e.g. carbon, carbon nanotube, silver, platinum etc.). The conductive polymer ranges from about 1% to about 25% of conductive sealer 212. The polymer (e.g. silicone etc.) is commercially available from Nusil Technology LLC, located in Carpinteria, Calif. Polyurethane is commercially available from The Polymer Technology Group Inc. located in Berkeley, Calif.
Conductive rings 224 are shaped, in one embodiment, as a C-ring to receive conductive sealer 212. Conductive rings 224 have an outer diameter of about 1.5 mm, an inner diameter of about 0.7 mm, and a thickness that ranges from about 0.25 mm (T1) to about 0.5 mm (T2). Conductive rings 224 are comprised of platinum or other suitable materials.
In one embodiment, magnetostrictive element 215 is coupled to at least one conductive ring 224. When lead 106 is exposed to MRI, magnetostrictive element 215 a expands, which creates a larger surface area in which to dissipate the current induced in lead 106. In another embodiment, depicted in
Bipolar shunted lead circuit 304 a includes ring electrode 216, magnetostrictive element 215, and tip electrode 207. Capacitors C3 and C5 correspond to ring electrode 216, and tip electrode 207, respectively and inductor L is associated with magnetostrictive element 215. Resistors R1 and R2 represent the impedance created by tissue and/or blood of the patient. R3 and R5, along with capacitors C3 and C5, represent the electrode to tissue interface impedances. Generally, larger area electrodes result in larger values of capacitance and smaller values of resistance. Exemplary values for bipolar shunted lead circuit 304 a include L C3 at 10 microF (uF), L is 4 uHenry, R3 is 100 Ohm (Ω), C5 is 1 uF, and R1 is 500Ω, and R5 is Ω.
Generally, under typical pacing conditions, pacing current flows from tip electrode 207 to ring electrode 216 and then returns to IMD circuit 302. Under a low frequency or direct current (DC) application, inductor L acts like a short circuit to a constant voltage across its terminals. A portion of the pacing current passes to the patient's tissue (e.g. heart tissue), represented as resistor R1, due to the large capacitance of C5 associated with tip electrode 207. Similarly, another portion of the pacing current passes to the patient's tissue, represented as resistor R3, due to the large capacitance of C3 associated with ring electrode 216. When lead 106 is exposed to MRI, current is induced, as depicted by the ghost lines.
It is understood that the present invention is not limited for use in pacemakers, cardioverters of defibrillators. Other uses of the leads described herein may include uses in patient monitoring devices, or devices that integrate monitoring and stimulation features. In those cases, the leads may include sensors disposed on distal ends of the respective lead for sensing patient conditions.
The leads described herein may be used with a neurological device such as a deep-brain stimulation device or a spinal cord stimulation device. In those cases, the leads may be stereotactically probed into the brain to position electrodes for deep brain stimulation, or into the spine for spinal stimulation. In other applications, the leads described herein may provide muscular stimulation therapy, gastric system stimulation, nerve stimulation, lower colon stimulation, drug or beneficial agent dispensing, recording or monitoring, gene therapy, or the like. In short, the leads described herein may find useful applications in a wide variety medical devices that implement leads and circuitry coupled to the leads.
Various embodiments of the invention have been described. These and other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, electrode 207 may include variously shaped electrodes such as ring shaped or other suitable shapes. Additionally, skilled artisans appreciate that other dimensions may be used for the mechanical and electrical elements described herein.
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