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  Electrode lineUSPTO Application #: 20070185557Title: Electrode line Abstract: An implantable electrode line having a proximal and a distal end, an outer electrode line surface and an electrode line longitudinal axis. The implantable electrode line is characterized in that the electrode line in the region of the distal end has a surface region with a microstructure, the surface region being provided for lateral contact with a vessel wall and being arranged at a spacing relative to the distal end which measures a plurality of electrode line diameters. The microstructure is formed by a plurality of microstructure elements which are arranged on the electrode line surface and which are distributed over the surface region both in the longitudinal direction and also in the peripheral direction. The microstructure elements are adapted, upon contact with a vessel wall, to counteract displacement of the electrode line along the electrode line longitudinal axis. (end of abstract) Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP - Akron, OH, US Inventor: Gernot Kolberg USPTO Applicaton #: 20070185557 - Class: 607126000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Electrical Energy Applicator, Placed In Body, Heart, Catheter Or Endocardial (inside Heart) Type, With Anchor Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070185557. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0001] This U.S. Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/883,030 filed on Jun. 30, 2004 which claims priority to and the benefit of German patent application 103 31 106.8 filed Jul. 4, 2003. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable electrode lines. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to an implantable electrode line having a proximal and distal end, an outer electrode line surface and an electrode line longitudinal axis. BACKGROUND [0003] Electrode lines, for example for cardiac pacemakers, suffer from the problem of electrode dislocations. Previous solutions for fixing an electrode line in the heart and in vessels are for example pre-shaped electrode lines which brace the electrode in vessels. Also known are helixes or screws which are disposed at the distal end of the electrode line on the electrode and which are adapted to fix the electrode to a myocardium by screwing therein. Also known are openings in the distal region of an electrode line, which are adapted to anchor the electrode line in the trabecula arrangement of a cardiac chamber. [0004] The state of the art also includes hooks which are disposed at the distal end or on the electrode line and which are adapted to fix the electrode line to the myocardium. [0005] The applicants' patent application WO97/31678 describes an electrode arrangement having a ventricular electrode which has hook-shaped fixing means at the distal end of the electrode. [0006] DE 69430417 T2 discloses an electrode system in which the electrode line is of a flexible nature in order to form a loop between the atrial electrode and the ventricular electrode. In the proximity of the atrial electrodes that electrode line has a first passive fixing device in the form of hooks and in the proximity of the ventricular electrodes at the distal end it has a fixing device with two hooks. [0007] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings. SUMMARY [0008] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an implantable electrode line is provided which permits secure fixing of the electrode line in the heart and in vessels. [0009] Such an embodiment is attained by an electrode line of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, which in the region of the distal end has at least one surface region with a microstructure, the surface region being provided for lateral contact with a vessel wall and being arranged at a spacing relative to the distal end which measures a plurality of electrode line diameters. The microstructure is formed by a plurality of microstructure elements which are arranged on the electrode line surface and which are distributed over the surface region both in the longitudinal direction and also in the peripheral direction and which extend with a radial directional component, preferably outwardly. The microstructure elements are of a radial extent which is a fraction of the electrode line diameter and are adapted, upon contact with a vessel wall, to counteract displacement of the electrode line along the electrode line longitudinal axis. [0010] The advantage of such an electrode line is that many microstructure elements which measure a fraction of the electrode line diameter and which are distributed on a surface region of the electrode line afford a greater degree of adhesion than for example in the case of an electrode line which has only one or some hooks at the surface for fixing the electrode line. [0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the microstructure elements are in the form of microbristles, wherein the microbristles are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the electrode line surface. The angle can be for example 90.degree.. This advantageously provides that the electrode line is secured against longitudinal axial displacement equally in the direction of the proximal end and also in the direction of the distal end. [0012] In a further embodiment, the microbristles are arranged in parallel relationship with the electrode line longitudinal axis, and in a particularly preferred feature the microbristles are oriented with a directional component facing towards the proximal end of the electrode line. This advantageously provides that the electrode line can be easily introduced in the implantation procedure and an increased level of resistance to displacement of the electrode line towards the proximal end is afforded by the orientation towards the proximal end. As an alternative to this embodiment a microstructured surface region may have both microstructure elements which are oriented with a directional component facing towards the proximal end and also such microstructure elements which are oriented with a directional component facing towards the distal end of the electrode line. Preferably the microbristles are oriented along the longitudinal axis of the electrode line alternately with a proximal and a distal directional component. That advantageously provides for fixing of the electrode line in respect of displacement along the longitudinal axis of the electrode line, both in a direction towards the proximal end of the electrode line and also in a direction towards the distal end thereof. [0013] In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the microbristles are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to the electrode line surface and are each oriented in mutually parallel relationship at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the electrode line. In this embodiment the microbristles are preferably oriented with a directional component facing towards the proximal end of the electrode line. That advantageously provides that the electrode line can be screwed into a vessel by rotation about the longitudinal axis in the peripheral direction. Preferably the bristles are adapted to bear flat against the electrode surface in the screwing-in operation. A rotational movement in opposite relationship to the screwing-in direction provides for fixing of the electrode line, repeated rotational movement in the screwing-in direction causes release of the electrode line. [0014] Alternatively the microstructure elements are in the form of knobs which are adapted to cling to a vessel wall by adhesion. For that purpose the knobs preferably have a flat adhesion surface which is arranged perpendicularly to the radial direction of the electrode line. When coming into contact with a suitable pressure against a vessel wall, a sufficiently thin film of moisture can be produced between the adhesion surface and the vessel wall. That produces adhesion forces which fix the electrode line to the vessel wall. [0015] In a further preferred feature the knobs are in the form of suction cups. For that purpose, instead of the flat adhesion surface, the knobs may have a concavely shaped adhesion surface. [0016] In another embodiment the microstructure elements are in the form of scales with a scale edge. Preferably the scales are arranged at a predetermined angle, further preferably an acute angle, relative to the electrode line surface, in such a way that the scale edge is spaced from the surface of the electrode line. In a further preferred feature the scales are arranged in such a way that at least one edge portion of the scale edge has an orientational component extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the electrode line. This advantageously provides that, on coming into contact with a vessel wall, the electrode line is easily displaceable in one direction along the longitudinal axis of the electrode line while in the direction opposite thereto, by virtue of the scale edges engaging into the vessel wall, there is an increased level of resistance to longitudinal axial displacement. [0017] In a further embodiment, the scales have at least one prong or tooth at the scale edge. That prong can advantageously engage into the vessel wall, in addition to the scale edge, and thus provide a further increased level of resistance to longitudinal axial displacement. [0018] The microstructure elements can be disposed on or shaped from the surface of the electrode line. Preferably the microstructure is produced in a microstereolithographic process, for example by deposition on a substrate. The substrate can be applied to the electrode line surface or may be formed by the electrode line surface itself. Alternatively a surface region with a microstructure may also be produced by a microstereolithographically produced form. [0019] An electrode line may have one or more surface regions with a microstructure, in which respect an embodiment or a combination of various embodiments of microstructure elements such as for example microbristles, scales, knobs or the embodiments of microstructure elements illustrated in the Figures can be implemented on just one electrode line. [0020] Suitable materials for the electrode line are for example polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), silicone, polyimide, ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polypropylene or polyurethanes. The microstructures can be produced jointly with the electrode line or a portion of the electrode line in an injection molding process, in which respect the microstructures can be appropriately incorporated in an injection molding mold. Continue reading... Full patent description for Electrode line Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electrode line patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Electrode line or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Medical electrical lead body designs incorporating energy dissipating shunt Next Patent Application: Medical device for unstable and vulnerable plaque Industry Class: Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Electrode line patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.98819 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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