INTRA-AORTIC ELECTRICAL COUNTERPULSATION

• US 20090198308A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enopace Biomedical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Enopace Biomedical Ltd.
• Inventors: Dagan, Amir, Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

In some embodiments of the present invention, apparatus is provided, including a sensing electrode configured to be implanted at a non-cardiac site in a vicinity of an aorta of a subject and to detect an electrical parameter of the aorta, and a control unit configured to receive the detected parameter and to generate an output in response to the detected parameter. Additional embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a sensing electrode configured to be implanted at a non-cardiac site in a vicinity of an aorta of a subject and to detect an electrical parameter of the aorta; and

a control unit configured to receive the detected parameter and to generate an output in response to the detected parameter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to be disposed in a vicinity of the subject'"'"'s aorta.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises at least a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being configured to be placed within the aorta at a longitudinal distance from each other of between 10 mm and 30 mm.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises at least a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being configured to be placed at a radial distance from each other of less than 10 degrees.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to be implanted at a site that is between 20 mm and 50 mm distal to an aortic valve of the subject.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a cardiac cycle of the subject by analyzing the detected parameter.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a timing parameter of blood pressure of the subject by receiving the detected parameter.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises ten or more electrodes.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to drive a current into the aorta in response to the detected parameter.

37. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the control unit is configured to detect a cardiac cycle of the subject by receiving the detected parameter, and is configured to drive the current in coordination with the subject'"'"'s cardiac cycle.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by increasing nitric oxide (NO) secretion by the wall of the aorta by applying the current.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta in response to detecting an indication of systole of the subject.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by configuring the current to have a frequency of between 5 Hz and 20 Hz.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by configuring the current to have a frequency of between 10 Hz and 15 Hz.

42. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by configuring the current to have an amplitude of between 1 mA and 5 mA.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by configuring the current to have an amplitude of between 2 mA and 3 mA.

44. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the aorta by configuring the current to have two pulses to eight pulses per cardiac cycle of the subject.

46. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the control unit, in response to detecting an indication of diastole of the subject, is configured to enhance constriction of the aorta by driving the current.

52. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the control unit,

in response to detecting systole of the subject, is configured to dilate the aorta by increasing nitric oxide (NO) secretion by the wall of the aorta by driving the current, and

in response to detecting diastole of the subject, is configured to enhance constriction of the aorta by driving the current.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

6-11. -11. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

21-24. -24. (canceled)

26-36. -36. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

47-51. -51. (canceled)

53-63. -63. (canceled)

64. Apparatus, comprising:

two or more electrodes configured to be implanted in a vicinity of an aorta of a subject; and

a control unit configured to peristaltically pump blood through the aorta by sequentially dilating portions of the aorta by facilitating nitric oxide production by the aorta by driving a current into the aorta via the electrodes.

73. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein one of the two or more electrodes is configured to be placed inside the aorta, and another electrode of the two or more electrodes is configured to be placed outside the aorta.

79. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the portions of the aorta by configuring the current to have a frequency of between 5 Hz and 20 Hz.

81. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the portions of the aorta by configuring the current to have an amplitude of between 1 mA and 5 mA.

83. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is configured to dilate the portions of the aorta by configuring the current to have two pulses to eight pulses per cardiac cycle.

87. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an indication of a cardiac cycle of the subject, and is configured to drive the current in coordination with the subject'"'"'s cardiac cycle.

65-72. -72. (canceled)

74-78. -78. (canceled)

80. (canceled)

82. (canceled)

84-86. -86. (canceled)

88-104. -104. (canceled)

105. A method, comprising:

detecting a parameter of an electrical current of an aorta of a subject; and

treating the subject in response to generating an output in response to the detected parameter.

106-154. -154. (canceled)

155. A method, comprising:

identifying a subject who would benefit from increased aortic blood flow; and

peristaltically pumping blood of the subject through the aorta by sequentially dilating portions of the aorta by facilitating nitric oxide production by the aorta by driving a current into the aorta.

156-187. -187. (canceled)