Patent ID: 8086321

Claim:
A medical device, comprising: a pulse generator configured to emit one or more therapy pulses; a lead including an electrode configured to contact body tissue in a body vessel and a lead conductor connecting the pulse generator with the electrode via a conductive path; an electrode switch electrically coupled between the lead conductor and the electrode, the electrode switch including an open state preventing the conductive path between the lead conductor and the electrode, the electrode switch including a closed state allowing formation of the conductive path between the lead conductor and the electrode upon reception of a voltage applied across the electrode switch which exceeds a threshold voltage, wherein the electrode switch comprises a threshold controller and a control line connecting the threshold controller to the pulse generator, and wherein the threshold controller is configured to receive at least one signal from the pulse generator to adjust the threshold voltage to another threshold voltage; and wherein the electrode switch in the open state is configured to electrically shield the electrode from at least electromagnetic radiation and induced voltages during magnetic resonance imaging.