Methods and apparatus to stimulate heart atria
First Claim
1. A programmable implantable pacemaker for treatment of heart failure, the pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient, and the pacemaker being programmed to generate electrical signals to be conveyed to the heart through the at least one electrically conductive lead, such that the electrical signals artificially pace an atrium of the heart;
- wherein the generated electrical signals are configured to deliver excitatory stimulation to the heart; and
wherein the excitatory stimulation is configured to cause the atrium to begin contracting against a closed heart valve after the closed heart valve has stopped blood flow from the atrium to a ventricle associated with the atrium, such that the contraction distends the atrium with blood, and the distending atrium results in an increased secretion of an atrial hormone that reduces vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing vagal tone and secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by excitory pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in atrial contraction against closed AV valves, and atrial contraction rate that is higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing results in the increased atrial wall stress. An implantable device is used to monitor ECG and pace the atria in a nonphysiologic manner.
97 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A programmable implantable pacemaker for treatment of heart failure, the pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient, and the pacemaker being programmed to generate electrical signals to be conveyed to the heart through the at least one electrically conductive lead, such that the electrical signals artificially pace an atrium of the heart;
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wherein the generated electrical signals are configured to deliver excitatory stimulation to the heart; and wherein the excitatory stimulation is configured to cause the atrium to begin contracting against a closed heart valve after the closed heart valve has stopped blood flow from the atrium to a ventricle associated with the atrium, such that the contraction distends the atrium with blood, and the distending atrium results in an increased secretion of an atrial hormone that reduces vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A programmable implantable pacemaker for treatment of heart failure, the pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient, and the pacemaker being programmed to generate electrical signals to be conveyed to the heart through the at least one electrically conductive lead, such that the electrical signals artificially pace an atrium of the heart;
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wherein the generated electrical signals are configured to deliver excitatory stimulation to the heart; wherein the excitatory stimulation is configured to cause the atrium to contract against a closed heart valve associated with the atrium such that the contraction distends the atrium with blood, and the distending atrium results in an increased secretion of an atrial hormone that reduces vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention; and wherein the distending atrium results in a therapeutic increase in secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide and/or brain natriuretic peptide. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A programmable implantable pacemaker for treatment of heart failure, the pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient, and the pacemaker being programmed to generate electrical signals to be conveyed to the heart through the at least one electrically conductive lead, such that the electrical signals artificially pace an atrium of the heart;
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wherein the generated electrical signals are configured to deliver excitatory stimulation to the heart; wherein the excitatory stimulation is configured to cause the atrium to contract against a closed heart valve associated with the atrium such that the contraction distends the atrium with blood, and the distending atrium results in an increased secretion of an atrial hormone that reduces vasoconstriction and/or sodium retention; and wherein the closed heart valve associated with the atrium is a normally-functioning heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification