METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NERVE STIMULATION AND CARDIAC SENSING PRIOR TO AND DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE

• US 20100004708A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hill, Michael R.S., Keogh, James R., Jahns, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• 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 1/385 Devices for inducing an abnormal cardiac function, e.g. fibrillation

Abstract

A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. A sensor to sense a characteristic of a fluid or tissue, such as an impending contraction, may be also used during the medical procedure. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for performing a medical procedure, comprising:

a cardiac tissue sensor responsive to the heart tissue'"'"'s state of contraction and providing an output indicative thereof;

a contraction inhibiting nerve stimulator activated responsive the sensor output;

a contraction triggering cardiac stimulator activated responsive to the sensor output; and

means for deactivating the nerve stimulator whenever the cardiac stimulator is on and for deactivating the cardiac stimulator off whenever the nerve stimulator is on.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cardiac stimulator is activated responsive to the in sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a contracting state.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the nerve stimulator is activated responsive to the in sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a non-contracting state.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the nerve stimulator is deactivated responsive to the in sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a contracting state.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising drug delivery means for delivering at least one drug during the medical procedure.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises at least one electrode.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensor comprises an amplifier coupled to the electrode.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a breathing regulator.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the breathing regulator comprises a phrenic nerve stimulator.

11. A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:

sensing the heart tissue'"'"'s state of contraction and providing an output indicative thereof;

activating a contraction inhibiting nerve stimulator responsive the sensor output;

activating a contraction triggering cardiac stimulator responsive to the sensor output; and

deactivating the nerve stimulator whenever the cardiac stimulator is on and deactivating the cardiac stimulator off whenever the nerve stimulator is on.

10. The system of claim 19 wherein the breathing regulator comprises a respirator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the cardiac stimulator comprises activating the cardiac stimulator responsive to the in sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a contracting state.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the nerve stimulator comprises activating the nerve stimulator responsive to the in sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a non-contracting state.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising deactivating the nerve stimulator responsive to the sensor output indicating that the tissue is in a contracting state.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising delivering at least one drug during the medical procedure.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein sensing the heart'"'"'s state of contraction comprises sensing a signal from at least one electrode.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein sensing the heart'"'"'s state of contraction comprises amplifying the signal from the electrode.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising regulating breathing.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein regulating breathing comprises using a phrenic nerve stimulator.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein regulating breathing comprises using a respirator.