Ventricular pacing

• US 20060136001A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newstim, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Action Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhu, Qingsheng, Ortega, Daniel Felipe, Shapland, J. Edward, Giniger, Alberto German
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• 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 1/371 Capture, i.e. successful stimulation

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient'"'"'s heart includes placing a first electrode and a second electrode in a right ventricle of the heart. A reference electrode is placed within the patient and internal or external to the heart. A pacing signal is generated including a first signal component, a second signal component and a reference component with the first and second signal components having opposite polarity and with both of the first and second components having a potential relative to the reference component. The first component is transmitted to the first electrode. The second component is transmitted to the second electrode. The reference electrode is connected to the reference component which may be an electrical ground. The pacing signal and the placement of the electrodes are selected to alter a contraction of a left ventricle of the heart.

Claims

1. A method for treating a condition of a heart of a patient, said method comprising:

placing a first electrode and a second electrode in a right ventricle of said heart;

placing a reference electrode within said patient and internal or external to said heart;

generating a pacing signal including a first signal component, a second signal component and a reference component with said first and second signal components having opposite polarity and with both of said first and second components having a potential relative to said reference component;

transmitting said first component to said first electrode, said second component to said second electrode and said reference component to said reference electrode;

said pacing signal and said placement of said electrodes selected to alter a contraction of a left ventricle of said heart.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes is secured to a septum of said heart.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said reference electrode is positioned to bias a field between said first and second electrodes toward a region that allows more synchronous contraction of the left ventricle.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said reference electrode is one of a plurality of reference electrodes connected by a switch to said reference component.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said reference electrode is positioned within said patient body to distort a field from said first and second electrodes to said left ventricle.

6. An apparatus for treating a condition of a heart of a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode each adapted for placement in a right ventricle of said heart;

a reference electrode adapted for placement within said patient and internal or external to said heart;

a signal generator for generating a pacing signal including a first signal component, a second signal component and a reference component with said first and second signal components having opposite polarity and with both of said first and second components having a potential relative to said reference component;

said signal generator coupled to said electrodes for transmitting said first component to said first electrode, said second component to said second electrode and said reference component to said reference electrode;

said pacing signal and said placement of said electrodes selected to alter a contraction of a left ventricle of said heart.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said transmitting is by wireless transmission.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said signal generator further includes circuitry for switching from said pacing to a second pacing mode.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising multiple reference electrodes with a switch for selecting a particular one of said multiple reference electrodes to be connected to said reference component.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a lead with at least one electrode adapted to be placed in said atrium and energized with a pacing/sensing circuitry to facilitate atrial-ventricular sequential pacing.

11. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a lead with and electrode adapted to be placed on said left ventricle and energized with a pacing/sensing circuitry.

12. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a defibrillation lead system with at least one large shocking electrode and circuitry for energize the said defibrillation electrode system (including, but not limited to the shocking electrode and the IPG housing) for defibrillation therapy.

13. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first and second electrodes are of a plurality of electrodes adapted for placement in said right ventricle, said signal generator including circuitry for selectively connecting one of said plurality to said first component and a second of said plurality to said second component.

14. An apparatus according to claim 6 including at least two reference electrodes.