CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTED CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM

• US 20080319502A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated, National Cerebral And Cardiovascular Center
• Original Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated, National Cardiovascular Center Japan
• Inventors: SUNAGAWA, Kenji, SUGIMACHI, Masaru, INAGAKI, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,000,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/30
• 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 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3785 generated by biological activity or substance, e.g. body movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A micro integrated cardiac pacemaker includes a control unit for outputting a control signal according to cardiograph information, heart stimulating means for stimulating heart tissue in response to the control signal, cardiograph information extracting means for extracting cardiograph information and outputting it to the control unit, and a power supply unit for supplying drive power. The power supply unit is a biological fuel cell that takes out electrons by oxidation of a biological fuel. The biological fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode. An oxidase of a biological fuel and a mediator are immobilized on the cathode. Blood and/or body fluid are used as an electrolytic solution, and a biological fuel and oxygen in the blood and/or the fluid are used. The biological fuel cell is attached to the end of a catheter and implanted into the heart, and the catheter is withdrawn, without incising the breast.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A cardiac pacing system comprising an ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker placed in the atrial myocardium, wherein the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker comprises:

a) a control unit that outputs at least one control signal, wherein the control unit comprises;

i) a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the control signal; and

ii) a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the control signal;

wherein the control unit changes the timing of stimulation to generate the control signal, if intracardiac P wave information is detected within a preset time interval;

b) a heart stimulating means that responds to the control signal and electrically stimulates the atrial myocardium;

c) an electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac P wave information; and

d) a power unit that supplies power to the pacemaker;

wherein the power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators; and

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid.

15. A distributed cardiac pacing system comprising an electrocardiographic information detecting device placed in an atrial myocardium and an ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker placed in a ventricular myocardium;

wherein the electrocardiographic information detecting device comprises;

a) an electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac P wave information;

b) a transmitting means that modulates detected electrocardiographic information and sends information to the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker;

c) a power unit that supplies driving power, wherein the power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker comprises;

a) a receiving means that receives and demodulates the electrocardiographic information sent from the electrocardiographic information detection device;

b) a control unit that outputs at least one control signal, wherein the said control unit comprises;

i) a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the control signal; and

ii) a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the control signal;

wherein the control unit generates the control signal when intracardiac QRS complex information is not detected within a given time after detection of intracardiac P wave information, and suppresses the control signal when QRS complex information is detected within a given time after detection of intracardiac P wave information;

c) a heart stimulating means that responds to the control signal and electrically stimulates the ventricular myocardium; and

d) a power unit that supplies a driving current;

wherein the power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid.

16. A distributed cardiac pacing system comprising a first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker placed in an atrial myocardium and a second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker placed in a ventricular myocardium,

wherein the first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker comprises:

a) a first control unit that outputs at least one first control signal;

b) a first heart stimulating means that responds to the first control signal and electrically stimulates the atrial myocardium;

c) a first electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac P wave information;

d) a first transmitting means that modulates the electrocardiographic information and sends the information to the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker;

e) a first receiving means that receives and demodulates the electrocardiographic information sent from the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker; and

f) a first power unit that supplies driving power to the first pacemaker;

wherein the first power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein electrocardiographic information sent from the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker is input into the first control unit; and

the first control unit has a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the first control signal, and a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the first control signal;

wherein the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker comprises;

a) a second control unit that outputs at least one second control signal;

b) a second heart stimulating means that responds to the second control signal and electrically stimulates the ventricular myocardium;

c) a second electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac QRS complex information;

d) a second transmitting means that modulates the electrocardiographic information and sends the information to the first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker;

e) a second receiving means that receives and demodulates electrocardiographic information sent by the first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker; and

f) a second power unit that supplies driving current to the second pacemaker;

wherein the second power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels,

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein electrocardiographic information sent from the first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker is input into the second control unit; and

the second control unit is equipped with a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the second control signal, and a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the second control signal;

wherein the first control unit generates the first control signal when intracardiac P wave information is not detected within a given time, and suppresses generation of the first control signal when intracardiac P wave information is detected within a given time;

wherein the second control unit generates the second control signal when intracardiac QRS complex information is not detected within a given time after detection of intracardiac P wave information, and suppresses generation of the second control signal when intracardiac QRS complex information is detected within a given time after detection of intracardiac P wave information; and

wherein if the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker detects intracardiac QRS complex information due to spontaneous ventricular contraction, the first control unit suppresses detection of intracardiac P wave information for a given time interval.

17. A distributed cardiac pacing system comprising an electrocardiographic information detection device placed in an atrial myocardium and a plurality of ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers placed in a ventricular myocardium;

wherein the electrocardiographic information detection device comprises;

a) a first electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac P wave information;

b) a first transmitting means that modulates detected electrocardiographic information and sends the electrocardiographic information to the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers; and

c) a first power unit that supplies a driving current,

wherein the first power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein each of the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers comprises;

a) a control unit that outputs at least one control signal;

b) a heart stimulating means that responds to the control signal and electrically stimulates the ventricular myocardium;

c) a second electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac QRS complex information;

d) a second transmitting means that modulates electrocardiographic information and sends the information to other ultra miniature cardiac pacemakers;

e) a receiving means that receives and demodulates electrocardiographic information sent from other ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers; and

f) a second power unit that supplies driving power;

wherein the second power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein electrocardiographic information sent from other ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers is input into the control unit; and

the control unit is equipped with a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the control signal, and a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the control signal;

wherein if the individual ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers do not detect intracardiac QRS complex information within respective preset times after detection of intracardiac P wave information, the control units of the ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers generate the control signal;

whereas if QRS complex information is detected within given times after detection of intracardiac P wave information, the control units generate the control signal synchronous to an earliest timing at which intracardiac QRS complex information is first detected.

18. A distributed cardiac pacing system comprising a first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker placed in a atrial myocardium and a plurality of second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers placed in a ventricular myocardium.

wherein the first ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemaker comprises:

a) a first control unit that outputs at least one first control signal;

b) a first heart stimulating means that responds to the first control signal and electrically stimulates the atrial myocardium;

c) a first electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac P wave information;

d) a first transmitting means that modulates the electrocardiographic information and sends the electrocardiographic information to the second ultra miniature cardiac pacemakers;

e) a first receiving means that receives and demodulates the electrocardiographic information sent by the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers; and

f) a first power unit that supplies driving power;

wherein the first power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein electrocardiographic information sent from the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers are input into the first control unit; and

the first control unit is equipped with a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the first control signal, and a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the first control signal;

wherein each of the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers comprises;

a) a second control unit that outputs a second control signal;

b) a second heart stimulating means that responds to the second control signal and electrically stimulates the ventricular myocardium;

c) a second electrocardiographic information detecting means that detects a plurality of electrocardiographic information including at least intracardiac QRS complex information;

d) a second transmitting means that modulates the electrocardiographic information and sends the electrocardiographic information to the first and other second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers;

e) a second receiving means that receives and demodulates the electrocardiographic information sent from the first and the other second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers; and

f) a second power unit that supplies driving power;

wherein the second power unit is a biological fuel cell that extracts electrons from oxidative reactions of biological fuels;

wherein the biological fuel cell comprises an anode electrode and a cathode electrode;

wherein the anode electrode is coated with immobilized oxidative enzymes for biological fuels and mediators;

wherein the biological fuel cell uses blood and/or body fluid as an electrolyte solution and utilizes biological fuels and oxygen in blood and/or body fluid;

wherein the electrocardiographic information sent from the first and other second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers is input into the second control unit; and

the second control unit is equipped with a stimulation timing determining means that decides a timing of stimulation to generate the second control signal, and a stimulation timing changing means that changes the timing of stimulation to generate the second control signal;

wherein the first control unit generates the first control signal if intracardiac P wave information is not detected within a given time, and suppresses generation of the first control signal if intracardiac P wave information is detected within a given time;

wherein the second control unit of the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers generate the second control signal if intracardiac QRS complex information is not detected by individual ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers within the respectively preset times after detection of intracardiac P wave information;

whereas if intracardiac QRS complex information is detected within given times after detection of intracardiac P wave information, the second control units generate control signals synchronous to the earliest timing at which intracardiac QRS complex information is detected;

wherein if one of the second ultra miniature integrated cardiac pacemakers detects intracardiac QRS complexes due to spontaneous ventricular contraction, the first control unit suppresses detection of intracardiac P wave information for a given time interval.