Implantable medical device for electrochemical measurements of blood properties

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable medical device (2) for in-vivo electrochemical measurements of blood properties. Electrochemical measurements refer to measurements of inter alia oxygen pressure, glucose and pH. The object of the invention is to solve the problem with the reference electrodes used today causing inflammatory reactions of tissue. In accordance with the invention a new reference electrode (8) made of carbon, preferably activated pyrolytic carbon, is used.

Description: The invention relates to an implantable medical device for in-vivo electrochemical measurements of blood properties according to the preamble of claim 1. Electrochemical measurements refer to measurements of inter alia oxygen pressure, glucose and pH. In electrochemical measurements a reference electrode is used to measure a referance potential and to relate the potentials of other electrodes to the reference potential and thereby making it possible to measure the blood property. Electrochemical sensors and e.g. pacemakers, which are implanted in patients' bodies, require implantable reference electrodes with long-term stability. In this connection, the technical literature only proposes reference electrodes made of Ag/AgCl. When these types of reference electrodes are used, however, one cannot rule out silver poisoning of the body as a result of the required long-term implantation. The principles of an electrochemical measurement are illustrated by an exemple describing measurements of oxygen pressure in the article "Oxygen Pressure as Biosensor for Rate Adaptive Cardiac Pacing" by Carlsten et al: PACE 1994; 17(Pt.II): 1939-1943. The electrochemical measurement described in the article is accomplished i.a by a sensor placed at the distal end of the an pacemaker electrode lead, near the stimulation electrode, and by an indifferent electrode, placed at the pacemaker housing. The oxygen molecules dissolved in the blood are chemically reduced on the surface of the sensor when its potential during a measurement pulse is forced to minus 1 volt compared to a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. In the reduction process, hydroxide ions are produced and the amount of these ions are dependent on the concentration of dissolved oxygen according to the following reactions: At the sensor: 2 H 2 O + O 2 + 4 e - ⇒ 4 OH - . At the indifferent electrode: 4 OH - + C ⇒ CO 2 + 2 H 2 O + 4 e - . The electrical current flowing into the sensor during measurement pulses is carried by hydroxide ions. This current, called oxygen current (ipO 2 ) is proportionel to the amount of hydroxide ions formed on the sensor surface. The housing of the pacemaker is partially covered with carbon. When a measurement pulse is applied to the sensor the carbon coating is oxidized to minute amounts of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) which is removed by the blood. The reference electrode is placed in the epoxy heading of the pacemaker. From US-5230786 is known a silver-chloride reference electrode used for in-vivo electrochemical measurements. To prevent silver or silver ions from diffusing into the body the silver-chloride layer is covered with a layer of e.g. nafion. The layer of nafion is between 1 and 100 µm thick. However, the thin layer of nafion is sensitive to wear which can result in that the silver-chloride layer comes in direct contact with blood. Another similar solution is known from US-4589418 where a silver/silver-chloride reference electrode is coated with a thin film of a silicone based polymer to reduce adverse tissue reactions. Document EP-A-0 593 990 discloses an implantable medical device having the features of the preamble of claim 1. Implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers, are often implanted in the body for a long time, up to 7-8 years, and it is of course of greatest importance that all negative tissue reactions caused by the implant are avoided. It is well known that silver/silver-chloride reference electrodes used for electrochemical measurements are not biocompatible and although several attemps have been made to reduce the inflammatory reactions, the problem with the reference electrodes used today is still not satisfactorily solved. The object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problem and this object is obtained according to the invention by an implantable medical device having a reference electrode as defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the type of carbon used is an activated pyrolytic carbon. This is the same material that today is used in stimulation tip electrodes. This material is well-known as biocompatible and no adverse reactions of tissue in the long-term have been identified during animal implants. The material has also proved good long-term stability. According to a further refinement of the device according to the invention the reference electrode is fastened to a holder made of e.g. titanium. In order to prevent oxidation between carbon and titanium, the titanium holder is covered on the side in contact with the carbon electrode by a material, e.g. titanium nitride. The carbon reference electrode in the device according to the invention is peferably fastened by glue to the holder. In order to better understand the invention the implantable medical device is below described with references to the accompanied figures as an oxygen measuring device of a physiologically controlled heart stimulator. Referring to two figures the invention will be described in greater detail below. On the drawing figure 1 shows a heart stimulator comprising a medical device according to the invention, figure 2 shows the reference electrode, of the device according to the invention, attached to a holder. In figure 1 an implantable heart stimulator 2 is disclosed with a stimulator housing 4 partially covered with carbon forming an indifferent electrode 16, a connector housing 6 where a reference electrode 8 is placed, and an electrode lead 10 connected to the connector housing 6. The electrode lead 10 includes a stimulation electrode 12 and a ring electrode 14. The ring electrode 14 is used as sensor electrode during electrochemical measurements. With references to figure 2 the carbon reference electrode 8 is attached to a holder 18 in the connector housing 6. The holder 18 is made of titanium or a non oxidisable material, e.g. gold or platinum. When using titanium an anti oxidation material 20, e.g. titanium nitride or titanium carbide, is inserted between the titanium holder 18 and the carbon reference electrode 8. The holder 18 is connected to an operational amplifier (not shown) via a connection 22. In order to firmly attach the reference electrode 8 to the holder 18 and to prevent leakage, the reference electrode 8 is glued to the holder 18 and to the connector housing 6. Since the pO 2 measurement is well described in the literature the electronics for achieving the measurement will not be described here. The reference electrode 8 is connected to one of the inputs of an operational amplifier (not shown) and the ring electrode 14 is connected via a resistor (not shown) to the other input. The potential on the ring electrode 14 is forced, during a short period, to minus 1 volt compared to the potential of the reference electrode 8. During this period the oxygen molecules dissolved in the blood are chemically reduced on the surface of the ring electrode 14. In the reduction process, hydroxide ions are produced and the amount of these ions are dependent on the concentration of dissolved oxygen. The electrical current flowing into the ring electrode 14 during the measurement pulse is carried by hydroxide ions. This current, called oxygen current (ipO 2 ) is proportional to the amount of hydroxide ions formed on the ring electrode 14 surface and is thus a measure of the concentration of dissolved oxygen in blood. This current is measured and can be used for controlling a rate responsive pacemaker. The invention has been described above applied to oxygen measurements. However, the invention can be implemented for several other measurements using electrochemical sensors, e.g. for glucose sensors or pH-sensors. List of references 2 Heart stimulator 4 Stimulator housing 6 Connector housing 8 Reference electrode 10 Electrode lead 12 Stimulation electrode 14 Ring electrode 16 Indifferent electrode 18 Holder 20 Anti oxidation material 22 Connection to operational amplifier

Claims: Implantable medical device (2) for electrochemical measurements of blood properties comprising a reference electrode (8) for determining a reference potential and measurement means (14, 16), whereby said reference electrode (8) and said measurement means (14, 16) being in contact with the blood for determining its properties characterized in that said reference electrode (8) is made of carbon. Implantable medical device according to claim 1 characterized in that said reference electrode (8) is made of activated pyrolytic carbon. Implantable medical device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said medical device comprises a holder (18) for said reference electrode (8), wherein said holder (18) is made of titanium and covered on the surface in contact with the reference electrode with an anti oxidation material (20). Implantable medical device according to claim 3 characterized in that said anti oxidation material (20) is titanium nitride or titanium carbide. Implantable medical device according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said medical device comprises a holder for said reference electrode (8), wherein said holder (18) is made of gold. Implantable medical device according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said medical device comprises a holder (18) for said reference electrode (8), wherein said holder (18) is made of platinum.

Inventors: HAGEL PIA, HOLMSTROEM NILS, NILSSON KENTH, HAGEL, PIA, HOLMSTROEM, NILS, NILSSON, KENTH, HOLMSTRÖM, Nils
Applicants: ST JUDE MEDICAL, ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61N1
IPC codes: A61N1, A61B5