Electromedical Implantable or Extracorporeally Applicable Device For the Treatment or Monitoring of Organs, and Method For Therapeutic Organ Treatment

• US 20080195163A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berlin Heals GmbH
• Original Assignee: Berlin Heals Holding AG (Berlin Heals GmbH)
• Inventors: Scharmer, Friederike
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0597 Surface area electrodes, e.g. cardiac harness
• 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 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• 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 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromedical implantable or extracorporeally applicable device for treating and monitoring organs as well as a method for therapeutic organ treatment. The aim of the invention is to create an electromedical implantable or externally applicable device which allows healing processes to be excited in diseased organs. Said aim is achieved by an electromedical implantable or extracorporeally applicable device for treating and monitoring organs, comprising a programmable generator and receiver unit (3) which generates and receives electrical microcurrents and electromagnetic power and is connected in a conducting manner to electrodes (4, 5), a telemetry unit (6) that is integrated into the generator and receiver unit (3) and is provided with a transmitter and a receiver for exchanging data with extracorporeal devices, and a power supply unit (7).

Claims

1. An implantable electromedical or extracorporeally applicable device for organ treatment and organ monitoring, comprising

a programmable generator and receiver unit (3) that generates and receives electric microcurrents and electromagnetic energy and is electrically connected to electrodes (4, 5),

a telemetry unit (6) that is equipped with a transmitter and receiver and is integrated into a generator and receiver unit (3) for data exchange with extracorporeal devices and a power supply unit (7).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the units (3, 6, 7) are arranged partially or completely extracorporeally.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes (4, 5) are designed as patch electrodes.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes (4, 5) are designed so that they can deliver electric or electromagnetic energy to organ tissue and can pick up signals from organ tissue.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein sensors for detecting the movements of the wall of the heart are integrated into the electrodes (4, 5).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein electrodes of pacemakers or defibrillators can be used as electrodes (4, 5) for delivering the microcurrent.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the generator and receiver unit (3) as well as a pacemaker and/or a defibrillator are arranged in an identical housing.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes (4, 5) are designed so that they can also be used for stimulation by pacemakers or defibrillators.

9. A method for therapeutic organ treatment, in that a diseased organ issue is exposed to electric microcurrents, voltages or electric, electromagnetic or magnetic fields (electromagnetic energy).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein electric microcurrents in the range of 0.001 to 10 mA are used.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein for regulation and modification of collagen (I and III) in the extracellular area of an organ, the organ tissue is exposed to microcurrents or electromagnetic energy.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine content is regulated with microcurrents or electromagnetic energy.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the MMP ([matrix] metal protease) content and the TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metal protease) content are regulated with microcurrents or electromagnetic energy.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein heart failure, hepatic, pulmonary or renal diseases are treated.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein to diminish rejection reactions in transplantations, microcurrent and electromagnetic energy are used.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein growth hormones are regulated.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine content includes interleukin-6 content.