System for preventing Sudden Cardiac Death by nerve sprouting from right stellate ganglion

• US 20030078629A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peng-Sheng Chen
• Original Assignee: Peng-Sheng Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Peng-Sheng
• Granted Patent: US 6,824,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

A system or apparatus is described for reducing the likelihood of the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in the heart of a patient having a myocardial infarction and an atrioventricular block, particularly a ventricular arrhythmia of the type potentially leading to Sudden Cardiac Death. The likelihood of the occurrence of the ventricular arrhythmia is reduced by stimulating myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle of the heart of the patient. Myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle is stimulated by applying electrical stimulation to the right stellate ganglion of the patient or by applying Nerve Growth Factor or other neurotrophic substance to the right stellate ganglion. The apparatus can also be advantageously exploited for use with patients having myocardial infarction but no atrioventricular block and for patients have other heart conditions such as Brugada syndrome.

Claims

1. An system for use with a patient, said system comprising:

a hyperinnervation stimulation device for stimulating nerve growth along a myocardial nerve pathway supplying nerves to a portion of the myocardium, said portion being selected such that hyperinnervation therein is effective for reducing the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients; and

an implantable cardiac stimulation device coupled to the heart of the patient via electrical leads for detecting electrical heart signals representative of an arrhythmia and for administering responsive therapy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device stimulates hyperinnervation in one or more of the sinus node or the right ventricle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device stimulates nerve growth via the right stellate ganglion of the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device includes an electrical neuro-stimulator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device applies the electrical stimulation below a threshold level above which electrical stimulation causes an increase in heart rate or blood pressure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device applies a neurotrophic vector to the myocardial nerve pathway supplying nerves to the selected portion of the myocardium.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device applies a neurotrophic vector selected from a group including Nerve Growth Factor, neurotrophic chemicals, and neurotrophic hormones.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the hyperinnervation stimulation device includes an osmotic pump for pumping the neurotrophic vector into the myocardial nerve pathway.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ventricular arrhythmia is phase-2 ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

10. An system for use within a patient, said system comprising:

means for stimulating nerve growth along a myocardial nerve pathway supplying nerves to a portion of the myocardium, said portion being selected such that hyperinnervation therein is effective for reducing the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients; and

means for detecting electrical heart signals representative of an arrhythmia and for administering responsive therapy.