Wound wire catheter cardioverting electrode

United States Patent m

Kinney et al.

[ii] 4,161,952 [45] Jul. 24,1979

[54] WOUND WIRE CATHETER

CARDIOVERTTNG ELECTRODE

[75] Inventors: Philip C. Kinney, Pittsburgh; Martin S. Heilman, Gibsonia; Alois A. Langer, Pittsburgh, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Mieczyslaw Mirowski, Owings Mills, Md.

[21] Appl. No.: 847,443
[22] Filed: No?. 1,1977

[51] Int. CI.* A61N 1/04

[52] U.S. CI 128/786

[58] Field of Search 128/404, 418, 419 P,

128/419 D

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,348,548 10/1967 Chardack 128/418

3,416,533 12/1968 Fisher et al 128/404

3,474,791 10/1969 Bentov 128/419 P

3,533,403 10/1970 Woodson 128/419 P

3,664,347 5/1972 Harmjanz 128/404

3,788,329 1/1974 Friedman 128/418

3,804,098 4/1974 Friedman 128/419 P

3,815,611 6/1974 Denniston 128/419 D

3,857,398 12/1974 Rubin 128/419 D

3,903,896 9/1975 Harmjanz 128/418

3,942,536 3/1976 Mirowski et al 128/419 D

4,030,509 6/1977 Heilman 128/419 D

4,033,355 7/1977 Amundson 128/419 P

Primary Examiner—William E. Kamm
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fleit & Jacobson

[57] ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an implantable catheter-type cardioverting electrode whose conductive discharge surface is comprised of coils of wound spring wire. An electrically conductive lead extends through the wound wire section of the electrode and has its distal end connected to the discharge coil at two locations. The proximal end of the conductive lead is adapted for connection to an implanted pulse generator. A pliable elastomeric material such as a medical-grade adhesive fills the conductive coils in the wound wire section of the spring wire electrode so that only the outer periphery of the wound section is exposed to the body. The catheter electrode is flexible, allowing easy implantation and avoiding trauma after implantation, and provides a large discharge surface for effecting defibrillation. The electrode is designed to reside in or about the heart, as in the superior vena cava or in the coronary sinus, and acts against another implanted electrode such as a conformal electrode residing at the apex of the heart.

36 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures