Left heart implantable cardiac stimulation system with clot prevention electrode body coating and method

Abstract

An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides stimulation therapy from within the left ventricle of a heart. The device includes a pulse generator adapted to be coupled to an implantable cardiac stimulation electrode and a power supply that provides the stimulation electrode with a positive voltage. The positive voltage promotes coating of the electrode through a body coating process. The coating serves to repel formation of clots on the electrode.

1 . A method comprising:
 implanting an electrode in a chamber of a heart;   applying a voltage to the electrode to cause the electrode to be coated through a body coating process; and   monitoring a resistance associated with the electrode and terminating provision of the positive voltage when the resistance reaches a certain value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is a positive voltage. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the positive voltage is greater than 250 mV. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the positive voltage is less than two volts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a left ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising coupling the electrode to a pulse generator in response to the resistance of the electrode reaching the threshold resistance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying a voltage to the electrode to cause the electrode to be coated through a body coating process comprises supplying a first voltage at an initial level and increasing the voltage level until the resistance associated with the electrode reaches the certain value. 
     
     
         8 . An implantable cardiac stimulation system comprising:
 at least one implantable lead including at least one electrode;   means for applying a voltage to the electrode to cause the electrode to be coated through a body coating process; and   means for monitoring a resistance associated with the electrode and terminating provision of the positive voltage when the resistance reaches a certain value.   
     
     
         9 . The implantable cardiac stimulation system of  claim 8  further comprising means for coupling the electrode to a pulse generator in response to the resistance of the electrode reaching the threshold resistance. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable cardiac stimulation system of  claim 8  wherein the means for applying a voltage to the electrode to cause the electrode to be coated through a body coating process comprises means for supplying a first voltage at an initial level and means for increasing the voltage level until the resistance associated with the electrode reaches the certain value.