Means for Augmenting Medical Electrical Systems

Abstract

A medical electrical system includes a device including a connector port and an external electrically active surface and an auxiliary lead including a supplemental electrode and a connector end. The external electrically active surface of the device is adapted to receive the auxiliary lead connector end, thereby electrically coupling the supplemental electrode to the device via contact between the connector end and the external surface.

1 . A medical device, comprising:
 a connector port including an internal electrical contact, the connector port adapted to receive a connector terminal of a medical electrical lead, thereby electrically coupling an electrode of the lead to the medical device via contact between the connector terminal and the internal contact;   an external electrically active surface adapted to receive a connector end of an auxiliary medical electrical lead and thereby electrically couple a supplemental electrode of the auxiliary lead to the medical device via contact between the connector end and the external surface; and   a connector module in which the connector port is formed and wherein the external electrically active surface is positioned on an outer surface of the connector module.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer housing and wherein the external electrically active surface is positioned on an outer surface of the outer housing. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the external electrically active surface is further adapted to act as a defibrillation electrode. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more features to provide additional stability of connection when the connector end of the auxiliary lead is received by the electrically active surface and wherein the one or more features include a threaded receptacle adapted to mate with a screw of the connector end. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically active surface includes a threaded receptacle to receive the connector end of the auxiliary lead. 
   
   
       6 . An auxiliary medical electrical lead, comprising:
 an insulated conductor;   a supplemental electrode electrically coupled to the conductor;   an electrical connector including a contact surface electrically coupled to the conductor, the connector adapted to connect to an external electrically active surface of an implantable medical device and thereby couple the supplemental electrode to the medical device via the contact surface.   
   
   
       7 . The lead of  claim 6 , further comprising a patch area and wherein the supplemental electrode is mounted in or on the patch area. 
   
   
       8 . The lead of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector further includes one or more features to provide additional stability of connection when the connector is connected to the electrically active surface and wherein the one or more features includes a screw. 
   
   
       9 . The lead of  claim 6 , wherein the contact surface of the electrical connector is formed, at least in part, by a screw. 
   
   
       10 . An auxiliary medical electrical lead, comprising:
 an insulated conductor;   a single supplemental defibrillation electrode electrically coupled to the conductor;   an electrical connector including a contact surface electrically coupled to the conductor, the connector adapted to connect to an external electrically active surface of an implantable medical device thereby coupling the single supplemental defibrillation electrode to the medical device; and   a patch area and wherein the supplemental defibrillation electrode is mounted in or on the patch area.   
   
   
       11 . The lead of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector further includes one or more features to provide additional stability of connection when the connector is connected to the electrically active surface and wherein the one or more features includes a screw. 
   
   
       12 . The lead of  claim 10 , wherein the contact surface of the electrical connector is formed, at least in part, by a screw. 
   
   
       13 . A medical electrical system comprising:
 a lead including an electrode and a connector terminal electrically coupled to the electrode via an insulated conductor;   an auxiliary lead including a supplemental electrode and a connector end electrically coupled to the supplemental electrode via a supplemental insulated conductor; and   a device including a connector port and an external electrically active surface;   wherein the connector port includes an internal electrical contact and is adapted to receive the lead connector terminal, thereby electrically coupling the electrode to the device via contact between the connector terminal and the internal contact; and   the external electrically active surface is adapted to receive the auxiliary lead connector end and thereby electrically couple the supplemental electrode to the device via contact between the connector end and the external surface, wherein the auxiliary lead further includes a patch area and wherein the supplemental electrode is mounted in or on the patch area.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the device further includes a connector module in which the connector port is formed and wherein the external electrically active surface is positioned on an outer surface of the connector module. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the device further includes one or more features to provide additional stability of connection when the connector end of the auxiliary lead is received by the electrically active surface and wherein the connector end of the auxiliary lead includes a screw mounted therein and the one or more features of the device include a threaded receptacle adapted to mate with the screw of the connector end. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the connector end of the auxiliary lead includes a screw mounted therein and the electrically active surface of the device includes a threaded receptacle to receive the screw. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the connector end of the auxiliary lead includes a screw mounted therein and adapted to contact the electrically active surface of the device for electrical coupling. 
   
   
       18 . A method for augmenting a medical electrical system to include a supplemental electrode, the method comprising the steps of:
 electrically connecting a pre-positioned lead electrode to a device via insertion of a lead connector terminal into a connector port formed in the device;   evaluating the performance of the system; and   electrically connecting supplemental lead electrode to the device via attachment of a supplemental lead connector to an external electrically active surface of the device.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of evaluating comprises:
 delivering one or more defibrillation shocks between the pre-positioned lead electrode and a second electrode, which has been electrically connected to the device; and   determining a defibrillation threshold via the one or more defibrillation shocks.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second electrode is a second lead electrode having been electrically connected to the device via the insertion of the lead connector terminal into the connector port. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a housing of the device forms the second electrode. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of evaluating comprises:
 delivering one or more pacing pulses via the pre-positioned lead electrode and a second electrode, which has been electrically connected to the device; and   determining cardiac hemodynamic performance.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second electrode is a second lead electrode having been electrically connected to the device via the insertion of the lead connector terminal into the connector port. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a housing of the device forms the second electrode. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of evaluating comprises analyzing electrical activity sensed by the pre-positioned lead electrode.