Method for treating myocardial infarction

• US 20060217773A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pastore, Joseph M., Zhu, Qingsheng, Salo, Rodney W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,567 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 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure
• 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 1/3682 with a variable atrioventricular delay
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36842 Multi-site stimulation in the same chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36843 Bi-ventricular stimulation

Abstract

A method for treating patients after a myocardial infarction which includes pacing therapy is disclosed. A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to deliver pre-excitation pacing to one or more sites in proximity to an infarcted region of the ventricular myocardium. Such pacing acts to minimize the remodeling process to which the heart is especially vulnerable immediately after a myocardial infarction.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient with myocardial infarction, comprising:

identifying an infarcted area in a ventricle;

delivering pacing pulses to one or more sites in proximity to the infarcted area with a selected pacing mode, wherein the pacing pulses are delivered in a manner that pre-excites the site or sites in proximity to the infarcted area relative to other areas of the ventricle; and

,

optimizing pacing parameters by selecting values which result in a minimum LVEDP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pacing parameters are optimized to minimize LVEDP without adversely affecting hemodynamic performance.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein pacing parameters are selected as values which maximize synchrony between the septum and lateral wall of the heart.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pacing pulses are delivered in accordance with a bradycardia pacing mode.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the pacing mode is an inhibited demand ventricular pacing mode.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pacing mode is an atrial tracking mode.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected pacing mode is a biventricular pacing mode.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the optimized pacing parameters include the biventricular offset interval.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the biventricular offset interval is optimized to minimize LVEDP without adversely affecting hemodynamic performance.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the biventricular offset interval is selected as a value which maximizes synchrony between the septum and lateral wall of the heart.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the optimized pacing parameters include the AV delay interval.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the AV delay interval is optimized to minimize LVEDP without adversely affecting hemodynamic performance.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the AV delay interval is selected as a value which maximizes synchrony between the septum and lateral wall of the heart.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein paces are delivered to multiple sites in proximity to the infarcted area simultaneously.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein paces are delivered to multiple sites in proximity to the infarcted area in an order defined by a specified pulse output sequence.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the pacing pulse are delivered to multiple sites via a patch having electrodes that circumscribe a region in proximity to the infarcted area.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the site or sites to which pacing pulses are delivered are located in the left ventricle.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the site or sites are paced with one or more electrodes disposed in a cardiac vein.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising optimizing pacing parameter values by reducing the workload on the infarct region while minimally compromising hemodynamics.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the pacing pulses are delivered to one or multiple sites via electrodes that are contained within the infarcted area.