Electrical Muscle Controller

• US 20080065163A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Darvish, Nissim, Fenster, Maier, Yuval, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 : for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3621 : for treating or preventing abnormally high heart rate
• 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 1/365 : controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 : controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36557 : controlled by chemical substances in blood
• 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

Abstract

A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Claims

1. A method of modifying the activity of the heart or of a portion thereof, the method comprising:

applying to cardiac neural tissue a non-excitatory electric field of a magnitude, shape, duty cycle, phase, frequency and duration suitable to obtain a desired change, to modify an activity of the heart or a portion thereof, wherein said field is applied at a time at which it is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory electric field dampens excitability of neural tissue.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory electric field blocks conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory electric field enhances conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory electric field reduces an excitability of the cardiac neural tissue.

6. A method according to claim 5, the excitability of the cardiac neural tissue is reduced by reducing an amount of available calcium.

7. Heart control apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

circuitry for generating a non-excitatory electric field to modify an activity of the heart or a portion thereof; and

elongate electrodes for applying to cardiac neural tissue said non-excitatory electric field, wherein said circuitry for generating a non-excitatory electric field generates a field with a timing relative to the activation of the heart or of a portion thereof, and of a magnitude, shape, duty, cycle, phase, frequency, and duration which is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the elongate electrodes are characterized by a length of at least 1 cm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electrodes are characterized by a length of at least 2 cm.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electrodes are characterized by a length of at least 4 cm.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7, adapted to dampen excitability of the neural tissue.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7, adapted to block conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7, adapted to enhance conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

14. Apparatus according to claim 7, adapted to reduce an excitability of the cardiac neural tissue.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the excitability of the cardiac neural tissue is reduced by reducing an amount of available calcium.

16. A method of modifying the activity of the heart or of a portion thereof, the method comprising:

applying to cardiac neural tissue a non-excitatory electric field configured to obtain a desired change;

monitoring an activity of the heart or a portion thereof; and

adjusting the applying responsive to the monitoring.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the non-excitatory electric field dampens excitability of neural tissue.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the non-excitatory electric field blocks conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the non-excitatory electric field enhances conduction of stimuli along a neural pathway.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the non-excitatory electric field reduces an excitability of the cardiac neural tissue.

21. A method according to claim 20, the excitability of the cardiac neural tissue is reduced by reducing an amount of available calcium.

22. Apparatus for cardiac therapy, the apparatus comprising:

at least one electrode; and

a control unit comprising pulse generating circuitry adapted to deliver pulses to the electrode, the pulses producing a non-excitatory electric field which modifies an availability of catecholamines to cells.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by inducing release of catecholamines from nerve cells.

24. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by increasing an absorption of catecholamines by cells.

25. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a magnitude suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

26. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a shape suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

27. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a duty cycle suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

28. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a phase suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

29. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a frequency suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

30. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a duration suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

31. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit operates the pulse generating circuitry so that said non-excitatory electric field is applied at a time at which the field is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

32. A method of cardiac treatment, the method comprising:

providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation; and

modifying the availability of catecholamines at the portion in synchrony with the activation.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the modifying comprises application of a non excitatory electric field.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by inducing release of catecholamines from nerve cells.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by increasing an absorption of catecholamines by cells.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is characterized by a magnitude, shape, duty cycle, phase, frequency and duration suitable to obtain a desired change in the availability of catecholamines to cells.

37. A method according to claim 33, comprising applying said non-excitatory electric field at a time at which the field is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

38. A method of cardiac treatment, the method comprising:

applying a non excitatory electric field to at least a portion of a heart in synchrony with activation thereof;

thereby modifying an availability of catecholamines at the at least a portion of a heart.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by inducing release of catecholamines from nerve cells.

40. A method according to claim 38, wherein the non-excitatory electric field modifies an availability of catecholamines by increasing an absorption of catecholamines by cells.

41. A method according to claim 38, comprising applying said non-excitatory electric field at a time at which the field is unable to generate a propagating action potential.