Augmentation of electrical conduction and contractility by biphasic cardiac pacing administered via the cardiac blood pool

• US 20020099413A1
• Filed: 01/21/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MR3 Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: MR3 Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Mower, Morton M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3712 Auto-capture, i.e. automatic adjustment of the stimulation threshold

Abstract

Augmentation of electrical conduction and contractility by biphasic cardiac pacing. A first stimulation phase is administered to the cardiac blood pool. This first stimulation phase has a predefined polarity, amplitude and duration. A second stimulation phase is then administered to the cardiac blood pool. This second phase also has a predefined polarity, amplitude and duration. The two phases are applied sequentially. Contrary to current thought, anodal stimulation is first applied and followed by cathodal stimulation. In this fashion, pulse conduction through the cardiac muscle is improved together with the increase in contractility.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing, the apparatus comprising:

leads for applying electrical stimulation to a cardiac blood pool; and

stimulation generator connected to the leads, wherein the stimulation generator produces a biphasic electrical waveform to stimulate the cardiac blood pool via the leads to effect cardiac pacing, the electrical waveform comprising;

a first stimulation phase with a first phase polarity, a first phase amplitude, a first phase shape and a first phase duration; and

a second stimulation phase with a second phase polarity, a second phase amplitude, a second phase shape and a second phase duration;

wherein the first phase polarity is positive.

2. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the first stimulation phase and the second stimulation phase are applied in sequence to the cardiac blood pool.

3. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the first phase amplitude is at a maximum subthreshold amplitude.

4. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 3, wherein the maximum subthreshold amplitude is about 0.5 to 3.5 volts.

5. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the first phase duration is at least as long as the second phase duration.

6. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the first phase duration is about one to nine milliseconds.

7. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the second phase duration is about 0.2 to 0.9 milliseconds.

8. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the second phase amplitude is about two volts to twenty volts.

9. The apparatus for electrical cardiac pacing of claim 1, wherein the first stimulation phase is initiated greater than 200 milliseconds after completion of a cardiac beating cycle.