Assessing Cardiac Activity

• US 20090030471A1
• Filed: 02/04/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Bitton, Ophir, Lebanony, Eyal, Rousso, Benny, Prutchi, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• 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 1/36514 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 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

A method of assessing contractility of a cardiac muscle which has an activation parameter, the method comprising: (a) utilizing time correlated data pertaining to an activation parameter to produce a profile of said parameter; and (b) analyzing changes in said profile to generate an indication of contractility.

Claims

1. A method of assessing contractility of a cardiac muscle which has an activation parameter, the method comprising:

(a) utilizing time correlated data pertaining to an activation parameter to produce a profile of said parameter; and

(b) analyzing changes in said profile to generate an indication of contractility.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said activation parameter includes a mechanical activation parameter.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said mechanical activation parameter includes at least one of impedance and acoustic output.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein analyzing said changes includes analyzing changes in a first derivative of the profile.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said time correlated data is acquired without any intra-corporeal measuring device.

7. A method of assessing efficacy of a treatment on cardiac contractility, the method comprising:

(a) performing a method according to claim 1 to generate a first profile;

(b) applying a treatment and re-performing a method according to claim 1 to generate a second profile;

(c) comparing said first profile and said second profile to ascertain an efficacy of the treatment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said treatment includes administration of a cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) input.

18. A method of positioning a lead, the method comprising,

(a) performing a method according to claim 1 to generate a first profile;

(b) applying a signal through a lead at a position in said heart at a known time;

(c) performing a method according to claim 1 to generate a second profile;

(d) comparing said first and second profile; and

(e) adjusting the positioning of the lead responsive to said comparison results.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein adjusting the positioning of the lead responsive to comparison results comprises adjusting if a selected portion of said first profile is not significantly narrower in said second profile.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said signal is a pacing signal.

43. The method of claim 7, wherein said treatment includes administration of an electric signal.

4. (canceled)

9. A system for assessing efficacy of an electric therapy device, the system comprising a data collection component designed and configured to utilize activation values correlated to time and corresponding electric therapy delivery values.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said activation values reflect at least one of mechanical activation, impedance, and acoustic data.

13. A system according to claim 9, additionally comprising data analysis circuitry designed and configured to analyze said activation values correlated to time and said corresponding CCM delivery values.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said analysis circuitry provides an output in the form of a desired change in activation profile.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said analysis circuitry provides an output in the form of a recommended change in CCM delivery.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said data analysis circuitry communicates with a controller which implements the recommended change in CCM delivery.

44. The system of claim 9, wherein said electric therapy device comprises a cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) device.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of generating a profile of the heart, the method comprising:

(a) measuring at least one parameter as a function of time to generate a cardiac activation profile;

(b) identifying a time interval during which interference from an artificial signal occurs; and

(c) ameliorating effects of said interference.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said amelioration includes data deletion followed by interpolation to reconstruct a missing portion of said profile.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein said amelioration includes data deletion followed by data regeneration to reconstruct a missing portion of said profile.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein said amelioration includes calculation of a first derivative of said function.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein said amelioration includes application of a band pass filter.

35. A method of assessing an effect of a non excitatory electric therapy, the method comprising:

(a) utilizing time correlated data pertaining to an activation parameter to produce a profile of said parameter; and

(b) analyzing changes in said profile to generate an indication of therapy efficacy.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said activation parameter includes a mechanical activation parameter.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein the non-excitatory electric therapy includes CCM.

38. A method of assessing efficacy of a non-excitatory electric treatment, the method comprising:

(a) performing a method according to claim 35 to generate a first profile;

(b) applying a treatment and re-performing a method according to claim 35 to generate a second profile;

(c) comparing said first profile and said second profile to ascertain an efficacy of the treatment.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the non-excitatory electric treatment includes CCM.

42. A method of assessing cardiac disease progression in a subject, the method comprising:

(a) performing a method according to claim 35 to generate a first profile;

(b) allowing an increment of time to elapse and re-performing a method according to claim 35 to generate a second profile;

(c) comparing said first profile and said second profile to ascertain a degree of disease progression.

40. A method of assessing cardiac disease status in a subject, the method comprising:

(a) utilizing time correlated data pertaining to an activation parameter to produce a profile of said parameter; and

(b) analyzing changes in said profile to generate an indication of cardiac contractility.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said activation parameter includes a mechanical activation parameter.