METHODS AND APPARATUS TO INCREASE SECRETION OF ENDOGENOUS NATURETIC HORMONES

• US 20070299475A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Backbeat Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: G & L Consulting LLC.
• Inventors: Levin, Howard, Galfand, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/102 driven by a solenoid-activated pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1018 Balloon inflating or inflation-control devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10181 Means for forcing inflation fluid into the balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10184 Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• 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 1/368 comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones ANP and BNP such as by stimulation of the heart atria. Heart pacing is done at an atrial contraction rate that is increased and can be higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing may include mechanical distension of the right atrial appendage. An implantable device is used to periodically cyclically stretch the walls of the appendage with an implanted balloon.

Claims

1. A method for pacing a heart of a patient comprising:

pacing at least one atria of the heart at an atrial pacing rate, and

pacing at least one ventricle of the heart at a ventricular pacing rate, where the atrial pacing rate exceeds the ventricular pacing rate.

2. A method as in claim 1 including blocking natural conduction from the atrium to the ventricle of the heart.

3. A method as in claim 1 including sensing the sinus rhythm of the heart and selectively synchronizing the pacing with the said rhythm.

4. A method as in claim 1 including switching to pacing the atria and the ventricle at the same rate.

6. A method as in claim 1 where pacing the at least one atria of the heart at an atrial pacing rate and pacing the at least one ventricle are cyclically repeated to achieve a therapeutic goal.

7. A method as in claim 1 further comprising stressing by pacing the atria at an accelerated rate.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising stressing by an expandable device.

9. A method as in claim 8 where the expandable device is a balloon.

10. A method as in claim 8 where the expandable device is mounted on a catheter.

5. A method for treating heart disease in a patient comprising:

stressing walls of at least one atria of the heart, and

restoring the walls of the atria to a substantially pre-stressed condition.