Method and apparatus for passive cardiac stimulation

Abstract

A passive conductor assembly for use with an implanted stimulating device having an intracavitarily or transvenously disposed electrode is disclosed. The passive conductor assembly used in combination with the implanted stimulus generator having an intracavitarily or intravenously disposed electrode includes at least one conductive element having a first end and a second end, and/or other contacting sites for contacting a portion of a heart of a subject to be stimulated. The passive conductor is disposed in proximity to the intracavitarily or transvenous electrode which is connected to the implanted stimulus generator such as a pacemaker or defibrillator. Upon discharge of an electrical stimulus or waveform from the implanted stimulus generator, the stimulus is conducted through the myocardial tissue to the conductor assembly where it is passively conducted to a region of the heart in contact with an end or other contacting sites of the conductive element of the passive conductor assembly which have been selected for cardiac stimulation. The passive conductor assembly can include electrical components disposed in electrical communication therewith which provide for the manipulation and/or modification of the electrical stimulus or waveform generated by the implanted stimulus generator which can be designed, for example, to selectively stimulate only neural tissue and not cardiac tissue or vice versa through the same passive conductor assembly.

1 . A passive conductor assembly for use with an implanted stimulus generator having an intracavitarily disposed stimulating lead for stimulating the heart of a subject, said conductor assembly comprising: 
 at least one conductive element having at least two electrically conductive contacts for contacting a portion of the heart of the subject.    
   
   
       2 . A conductor as set forth in claim  15 , wherein said conductive element comprises an insulator disposed about at least a portion of said conductive element.  
   
   
       3 . A conductor as set forth in claim  15 , wherein said conductive element comprises a metallic wire.  
   
   
       4 . A conductor as set forth in claim  15 , wherein said conductive element comprises a metallic strip.  
   
   
       5 . A conductor as set forth in claim  15 , wherein said conductive element comprises a ribbon of conductive material.  
   
   
       6 . A conductor as set forth in claim  15 , wherein said conductive element includes at least one electrical component disposed in electrical communication therewith.  
   
   
       7 . A conductor as set forth in claim  20 , wherein said electrical component comprises a diode.  
   
   
       8 . A conductor as set forth in claim  20 , wherein said electrical component comprises a device capable of storing energy.  
   
   
       9 . A conductor as set forth in claim  22 , wherein said electrical component comprises a capacitor.  
   
   
       10 . A conductor as set forth in claim  20 , wherein said electrical component comprises a resistor.  
   
   
       11 . A conductor as set forth in claim  20 , wherein said electrical component comprises a microprocessor.