METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING POST-INFARCT VENTRICULAR REMODELING

• US 20090171407A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodney W. Salo
• Original Assignee: Rodney W. Salo
• Inventors: Salo, Rodney W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• 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 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36842 Multi-site stimulation in the same chamber

Abstract

A cardiac rhythm management device for in which pre-excitation pacing is applied to one or more sites in proximity to an infarcted region of the ventricular myocardium. Such pacing servers to either prevent or minimize post-infarct remodeling.

Claims

1. A cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:

one or more sensing channels for sensing intrinsic cardiac activity;

a plurality of pacing channels for delivering pacing pulses;

one or more electrodes adapted for disposition near a selected myocardial region;

a controller for controlling the delivery of pacing pulses in accordance with a pacing mode, wherein the controller is programmed to deliver the pacing pulses to the one or more electrodes in a manner that pre-excites the circumscribed region; and

,

an impedance sensor for detecting changes in wall motion and wall thickness in an area in proximity to the selected myocardial region and wherein the controller is programmed to modify the delivery of pacing pulses in accordance therewith.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more electrodes are incorporated into a patch having a conductor located on its periphery so as to circumscribe the selected myocardial region when the patch is placed thereon

3. The device of claim 1 wherein areas on the outer surface of the conductor are intermittently coated with an insulating material so as to increase the current density at uncoated regions when the conductor is energized.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drug delivery system for delivering an agent selected from a group consisting of an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker, a growth factor, and an anti-apoptotic factor.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising an acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic energy generated by the heart during a cardiac cycle and wherein the controller is programmed to modify the delivery of pacing pulses in accordance therewith.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to deliver pacing pulses in an inhibited demand ventricular pacing mode.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to deliver pacing pulses an atrial tracking mode.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to deliver pacing pulses to multiple sites in proximity to the selected myocardial region simultaneously.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to deliver pacing pulses to multiple sites in proximity to the selected myocardial region in an order defined by a specified pulse output sequence.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted for disposition in a cardiac vein.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising separate pairs of electrodes for producing impedance signals from both the selected myocardial region and a non-ischemic region and wherein the controller is programmed to monitor ischemia in the selected myocardial region by comparing the timing of the contraction in the selected myocardial region with the timing of the non-ischemic region.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is programmed such that if the contractions in the selected myocardial region are delayed or significantly prolonged, pre-excitation pacing to the selected myocardial region is started.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is programmed such that if the contractions in the selected myocardial region are delayed or significantly prolonged, pre-excitation pacing to the selected myocardial region is increased.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is programmed such that if the contractions in the selected myocardial region are not delayed or significantly prolonged, pre-excitation pacing to the area is stopped.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is programmed such that if the contractions in the selected myocardial region are not delayed or significantly prolonged, pre-excitation pacing to the selected myocardial region is decreased.