Papillary muscle stimulation

• US 20040230236A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Prinzen, Frits W., Grandjean, Pierre A., Struble, Chester L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3622 comprising two or more electrodes co-operating with different heart regions

Abstract

A method for pacing a left ventricle of a heart includes delivering a pacing pulse via a first electrode to activate a first papillary muscle and another pacing pulse via a second electrode to activate a second papillary muscle.

Claims

1. A method for pacing a left ventricle of a heart comprising the steps of:

positioning a first electrode in proximity to a base of a first left ventricular papillary muscle;

positioning a second electrode in proximity to a base of a second left ventricular papillary muscle; and

delivering a pacing pulse via the first electrode to activate the first papillary muscle and another pacing pulse via the second electrode to activate the second papillary muscle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pacing pulses, delivered via the first and second electrodes, are delivered simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pacing pulses, delivered via the first and second electrodes, are delivered with a delay between the pulses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of positioning the first and second electrodes includes the step of inserting a distal portion of a pacing lead including the first and second electrodes coupled thereto into a left ventricular apex.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the distal portion of the lead further includes a third electrode coupled thereto in between the first electrode and the second electrode in order that the third electrode forms a first bipolar pair with the first electrode and a second bipolar pair with the second electrode.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the distal portion of the pacing lead is inserted into the left ventricular apex from an epicardial approach.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of inserting is preceded by a step of passing a guiding catheter through a thorascopic access port such that a distal end of the guiding catheter contacts the left ventricular apex to form a conduit for passage of the distal portion of the pacing lead.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of inserting is preceded by a step of puncturing through the left ventricular apex with a puncture needle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the distal portion of the lead is inserted into the left ventricular apex through a lumen of the puncture needle.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the distal portion of the pacing lead is inserted into the left ventricular apex from a right ventricle via an endocardial trans-septal approach.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of isolating conduction within the first and second left ventricular papillary muscles from myocardial conduction of the left ventricle prior to delivering the pacing pulses.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the means for isolating comprises ablation.