Apparatus and method for delivering electrical signals to modify gene expression in cardiac tissue

• US 20070027487A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Haddad, Walid, Rousso, Benny, Mika, Yuval, Sabbah, Hani
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,262 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 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• 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 1/36557 controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/04 Inotropic agents, i.e. stimulants of cardiac contraction; Drugs for heart failure

Abstract

Method and apparatus (120) for modifying gene expression in cardiac muscle cells (110), by the application of electric fields.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A device adapted to apply a non-excitatory field to a heart in a manner which acutely affects a functioning of said heart, characterized in that the device is adapted to take an effect on gene expression into account in its functioning.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said device is implantable.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein said device includes a feedback control loop which modifies an application of non-excitatory field in response to an indication of a gene expression effect of a previous application of a non-excitatory field.

18. A device according to claim 17, including a watchdog which stops or modifies application of an electrical signal to a heart responsive to an effect of such application on gene expression in the heart.

19-20. -20. (canceled)