Vibrator with a plurality of contact nodes for treatment of myocardial ischemia

• US 20080275371A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon Fraser University
• Original Assignee: Ahof Biophysical Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Andrew Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/225 for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], e.g. by using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0209 powered with frequencies not related to mains frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/02 Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors

Abstract

A vibrator for use in enhancement of pre-hospital coronary thrombolysis comprising a vibration source operable to generate vibration at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz with at least a pair of oscillatory contacts spaced to enable simultaneous seating to the anatomic left and right of the sternum (such as to match the geometry of the right and left coronary arteries) of a patient in need of coronary thrombolysis. The preferred vibrator is operable to emit vibration in the low frequency sonic range (at least 20 Hz) with an amplitude of about 1 mm-15 mm (and more preferably greater than 2 mm), such as to provide an effective transthoracic tool for acute coronary thrombolysis applications. In a variation, greater than a pair of contacts are utilized to provide oscillatory contact at differing intercostal space levels (in order to maximize vibratory penetration to the heart which is variably situated depending on the patient'"'"'s anatomy).

Claims

1. ) A non-invasive method of using a percussion device with at least a pair of contact nodes for treating a state of myocardial ischemia comprising the steps of

a) simultaneously applying said at least a pair of contact nodes to opposing sides of a bony structure upon the thoracic cavity of a patient suffering from myocardial ischemia, and

b) applying mechanical percussion via said at least a pair of contact nodes at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz, and a displacement amplitude in the range of 1 mm-15 mm upon said thoracic cavity of said patient,

whereby percussion delivered via said at least a pair of contact nodes enables effective localized acoustic transmission to the heart and coronary arteries thereupon in view to remediation of said state of myocardial ischemia.

2. ) The method of claim 1, wherein each of said at least a pair of contact nodes are sized and shaped to enable operative seating within a human rib space of an individual receiving percussion from said percussion device.

3. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a pair of contact nodes are adjustably spaced relative to one another.

4. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a pair of contact nodes are applied to at least one of the anterior chest wall anatomic left and right of the sternum, and the upper back anatomic left and right of the spine of said patient.

5. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least a pair of contact nodes are simultaneously applied to a plurality of rib-spaces at differing intercostal space levels.

6. ) The method of claim 2, wherein said percussion device has greater than a pair of oscillatory contact nodes, wherein said greater than a pair of contact nodes are simultaneously applied to the anatomic left and right of the sternum at differing intercostal space levels.

7. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said displacement amplitude is at least 2 mm, and said frequency is at least 20 Hz.

8. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said contact nodes are applied upon said thoracic cavity under an engagement force of at least 50 newtons.

9. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said percussion device is sized and configured to enable hand held manoeuvring and engagement.

10. ) The method of anyone of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5 wherein said applying percussion occurs exclusively during the diastole of the cardiac cycle.

11. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said percussion delivered via said at least a pair of contact nodes is applied via a plurality of oscillatory waveforms simultaneously applied at differing frequency.

12. ) The method of claim 1, wherein said state of myocardial ischemia comprises at least one of angina pectoris and a heart attack.

13. ) A non-invasive method of enhancing coronary thrombolysis, comprising the steps of,

a) providing a percussion device having at least a pair of oscillatory contacts spaced to enable seating to the anatomic left and right of the sternum of a patient suffering from a heart attack in need of coronary thrombolysis, and

b) administering percussion at a frequency in the range of 1-1000 Hz, and a displacement amplitude in the range of 1 mm-15 mm simultaneously to the anatomic left and right of the sternum of said patient via said contacts,

whereby said percussion simultaneously applied to the anatomic left and right of the sternum enables optimized transmission to the heart and coronary arteries thereupon in view to enhancing coronary thrombolysis.

14. ) The method of claim 13, wherein said contacts are sized and shaped to enable operative seating within a human rib-space, and are applied within the rib-spaces of said patient.

15. ) The method of claim 13, wherein said percussion has a displacement amplitude of greater than 2 mm, such as to ensure effective penetration of said percussion.

16. ) The method of claim 13, wherein said percussion device has a displacement amplitude control, and said percussion is applied at controllable displacement amplitude levels at the discretion of an operator.

17. ) The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of administering said percussion to the upper back of said patient via said at least a pair of contact nodes, in the event said percussion to said anatomic left and right of the sternum cannot be tolerated by said patient.

18. ) The method of anyone of claims 13, 14, 15 and 16, wherein said percussion is applied exclusively during the diastolic period of the cardiac cycle of said patient.

19. ) The method of claim 13, wherein said percussion device is portable, and said percussion is delivered prior to arrival of said patient to a hospital.