Anti-coagulation and demineralization system for conductive medical devices
A system for minimizing and/or eliminating coagulative or mineral deposits on respective blood-contacting surfaces of implanted medical devices includes an implantable system having a current generating device that is electrically coupled to at least first and second electrodes for developing a current therebetween. The at least first and second electrodes are disposed across a patient's thoracic cavity in a manner so that a particular implanted medical device having at least a portion thereof that is fabricated from an electrically conductive material is disposed in a path substantially between such electrodes, thereby focusing the generated electrical current at the electrically conductive portion of the implanted medical device for therapeutic treatment thereat.
1. A method for inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on an electrically-conductive blood-contacting portion of an implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said method comprising:
(a) providing an implanted system having:
(i) a current generating means;
(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and
(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;
(b) positioning said first electrode subcutaneously at a first position external to the patient's thoracic cavity;
(c) positioning said second electrode subcutaneously at a second position external to the patient's thoracic cavity, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and
(d) causing said current generating means to generate a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said current generating means is integral and contained within a pacemaker system.
3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device is fabricated from the group consisting of pyrolytic carbon, titanium, and stainless steel.
4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said implanted bio-medical device is selected from the group consisting of a prosthetic heart valve, a cardiac stent, and an artificial conductive blood vessel.
5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said blood-contacting portion of said prosthetic heart valve is the valve housing and valve leaflets thereof.
6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the generated current is subthreshold.
7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first and second electrodes are secured to an implantable monolithic structure that is operably implanted at a subcutaneous position.
8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said current generating means is disposed at said monolithic structure.
9. A method for inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on an electrically-conductive blood-contacting portion of an implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said method comprising:
(a) providing a therapeutic system having:
(i) a current generating means;
(ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and
(iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means;
(b) removably securing said first electrode to a first position external to the patient's body;
(c) removably securing said second electrode to a second position external to the patient's body, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and
(d) causing said current generating means to generate a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted biomedical device.