Partially Insulated Pacing Tip Electrode for Directional Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac pacing devices face challenges in managing overall impedance, which affects the efficiency and longevity of battery life due to non-directional exposure of electrode surfaces, leading to increased current draw.
Innovation Solution
A pacing device with a partially insulated tip electrode that selectively exposes conductive and insulative portions along the inner and outer radial surfaces, controlling impedance by directionally-specific insulation to enhance effective pacing with lower current draw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode surface is fully exposed to increase pacing effectiveness, then pacing efficiency is improved, but current draw increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is divided into different regions with different properties: a first region with first impedance characteristics and a second region with second impedance characteristics. This local differentiation allows the electrode to provide effective pacing stimulation while controlling overall current draw by having lower impedance in the pacing direction and higher impedance in other directions, thus extending battery life.
2Reliability
If the electrode surface area is increased to improve pacing coverage, then pacing effectiveness is improved, but impedance control becomes less directional and battery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is segmented into distinct first and second regions, each with different impedance characteristics. The first region provides pacing coverage while the second region controls overall impedance. This segmentation enables directional impedance control that maintains effective pacing coverage without increasing current draw in non-pacing directions.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional non-directional electrode exposure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but pacing efficiency is reduced due to increased current draw
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure utilizes changes in impedance parameters across different regions of the electrode surface. By controlling the impedance characteristics of the first and second regions differently, the electrode achieves directional pacing efficiency while maintaining a fabrication process that can be implemented using standard manufacturing techniques for multi-region electrodes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pacing device (100), such as a pacing lead (102) or a biostimulator (104), includes a tip electrode (110) electrically connected to an electrical conductor (204). The electrical conductor (204) conveys pacing impulses from pacing circuitry to the tip electrode (110). The tip electrode (110) extends along a spiral axis (402) and has a surface (602) that, at a position (604) along the spiral axis (402), includes an insulative portion (606) and a conductive portion (608). Other embodiments are also described and claimed.