Medical Devices Incorporating Carbon Nanotube Material and Methods of Fabricating Same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to medical devices; in particular and without limitation, to unique electrodes and/or electrical lead assemblies for stimulating cardiac tissue, muscle tissue, neurological tissue, brain tissue and/or organ tissue; to electrophysiology mapping and ablation catheters for monitoring and selectively altering physiologic conduction pathways; and, wherein said electrodes, lead assemblies and catheters optionally include fluid irrigation conduit(s) for providing therapeutic and/or performance enhancing materials to adjacent biological tissue, and wherein each said device is coupled to or incorporates nanotube structures or materials therein. The present invention also provides methods for fabricating, deploying, and operating such medical devices.

1 . A method of treating a portion of biological tissue, comprising the steps:
 advancing a hollow electrode member into contact with a portion of biological tissue wherein said hollow electrode member is fluidly coupled to a source of substantially biologically inert solution; and   dispensing a small amount of the substantially biologically inert solution into the contact portion between the hollow electrode member and the portion of biological tissue, wherein said substantially biologically inert solution comprises a sufficient plurality of electrically conductive nanotube structures to render the substantially biologically inert solution electrical conductive.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said portion of biological tissue comprises a one of the following: a cardiac tissue, a muscle tissue, an organ tissue, a brain tissue, a myocardial infarct tissue, a neurological tissue, 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said small amount of solution is approximately about 100 microliters of solution. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said advancing step means piercing said portion of biological tissue and further comprising the steps:
 withdrawing the hollow electrode member;   moving the hollow electrode member to an adjacent portion of biological tissue;   piercing said adjacent portion of biological tissue;   dispensing an second small amount of substantially biologically inert solution into said adjacent biological tissue.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said piercing step comprises at least two sub-piercing steps, a first sub-piercing step comprises the step of advancing the hollow electrode member to a first depth in said biological tissue and wherein at least a second sub-piercing step comprises advancing or retracting said hollow electrode member to a second depth different from the first depth. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 electrically coupling the hollow electrode member to a pulse generator circuit having pulse sensing capabilities;   stimulating the portion and/or the adjacent portion of biological tissue with at least one electrical pulse delivered by the hollow electrode member;   sensing a resulting evoked response from a remote electrode or from a sensor coupled to the subject.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said remote electrode is a one of the following: a transcutaneous electrode, a percutaneous electrode, a subcutaneous electrode, an epicardial electrode, an endocardial electrode, a pericardial electrode.