Hemodynamically responsive system for and method of treating a malfunctioning heart
First Claim
1. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system including storage means for storing electrical energy, electrode means for electrically coupling the storage means to the heart, pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said sensing means for developing a variable first signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said means for developing a second signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the predetermined period, and means responsive to output from the means for developing the variable first signal and the second signal for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by said storage means across said electrode means and into the heart upon change in mean current pressure of at least a predetermined amount from the mean baseline pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for and method of treating a malfunctioning heart is based on hemodynamics. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) mean right atrial pressure (MRAP), mean right ventrical pressure (MRVP), mean left atrial pressure (MLAP), mean left ventrical pressure (MLVP) or mean central venous pressure (MCVP) is sensed. The long term mean baseline pressure is monitored and if the short term current mean pressure differs therefrom by a predetermined value, an indication of hemodynamic compromise, cardioversion/defibrillation is effected. In a second embodiment, the determination of whether the difference between mean baseline and mean current pressure is undertaken after a rate criteria (for example a heart rate above 155 b.p.m. has been met. In a third embodiment, the rate and pressure criteria both must exist at the same time, before cardioverting/defibrillation is initiated. In a fourth embodiment, a microprocessor is used. The system may be integrated with antitachycardia and/or antibradycardia pacemakers.
171 Citations
56 Claims
- 1. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system including storage means for storing electrical energy, electrode means for electrically coupling the storage means to the heart, pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said sensing means for developing a variable first signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said means for developing a second signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the predetermined period, and means responsive to output from the means for developing the variable first signal and the second signal for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by said storage means across said electrode means and into the heart upon change in mean current pressure of at least a predetermined amount from the mean baseline pressure.
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16. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system comprising electrical means for sensing heart rate and producing a first control signal upon the heart rate exceeding a predetermined rate;
- pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said sensing means for developing a second pressure-related signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length of producing a second control signal indicative of the mean current pressure departing from mean baseline pressure by at least a predetermined amount;
controllable antitachycardia pacemaking means for supplying pacing signals to the heart;
controllable cardioverting/defibrillating means including storage means for storing electrical energy and electrode means for applying electrical energy from the storage means to the heart to cardiovert or to defibrillate same;
control circuit means responsive to the first control signal and to the second control signal for enabling said antitachycardia pacemeaking means in response to presence of the first control signal and contemporaneous absence of the second control signal and for enabling said cardioverting/defibrillating means in response to contemporaneous presence of both the first control signal and the second control signal; and
means for discharging electrical energy stored by said storage means across said electrode means and into the heart. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said sensing means for developing a second pressure-related signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length of producing a second control signal indicative of the mean current pressure departing from mean baseline pressure by at least a predetermined amount;
- 32. In a method of treating a malfunctioning heart, the method including the step of sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, an improvement comprising determining variable mean baseline pressure from the sensed pressure over a period of predetermined length, determining mean current pressure from the sensed pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the predetermined period, and delivering cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy to the heart in response to change of at least a predetermined magnitude in the mean current pressure from the mean baseline pressure.
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45. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system including means for providing cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy, pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a variable signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a further signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length, and means responsive to the variable signal and to the further signal for delivering the cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy into the heart upon occurrence of departure of the further signal from the variable signal by at least a predetermined magnitude indicative of hemodynamic comprise.
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46. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system comprising electrical means for sensing heart rate and producing a first control signal whenever the rate exceeds a predetermined rate, pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system;
- means responsive to output from the pressure responsive means for developing a variable signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
means responsive to output from the pressure responsive means for developing a further signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined duration;
means responsive to the variable signal and to the further signal for developing a second control signal upon departure of the further signal from the variable signal by at least a predetermined magnitude;
controllable antitachycardia pacemaking means for supplying pacing signals to the heart;
means for producing controllable cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy;
control circuit means responsive to the first control signal and to the second control signal for enabling said antitachycardia pacemaking means upon presence of the first control signal and absence of the second control signal and for enabling said means for producing the cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy upon contemporaneous presence of the first control signal and the second control signal.
- means responsive to output from the pressure responsive means for developing a variable signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
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47. In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of a patient, the system including means for delivering electrical energy to the heart and pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, an improvement comprising means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length;
means responsive to the first signal and to the second signal for producing a control signal upon occurrence of the second signal departing from the first signal by at least a given magnitude; and
means responsive to the control signal for enabling the means for delivering electrical energy to the heart.
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length;
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48. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart of a patient, the system comprising pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system;
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length;
means responsive to the first signal and to the second signal for producing a first control signal upon occurrence of the second signal departing from the first signal by at least a given magnitude;
means responsive to heart rate for producing a second control signal upon heart rate exceeding a given rate; and
means responsive to at least the first control signal and to the second control signal for delivering electrical energy to the heart.
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
- 49. In a method of treating a malfunctioning heart of a patient which includes sensing change in pressure at a site in a circulatory system and delivering to the patient electrical energy, an improvement comprising determining variable mean baseline pressure from the sensed pressure over a period of predetermined length, determining mean current pressure from the sensed pressure over a period of given length less than the duration of the predetermined period, and wherein the step of delivering electrical energy is taken in response to a difference of at least predetermined magnitude in the mean current pressure from the mean baseline pressure.
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51. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system including storage means for storing electrical energy, electrode means for electrically coupling the storage means to the heart, pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said sensing means for developing a variable first signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means coupled to output from said sensing means for developing a second signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the predetermined period, means responsive to output from the means for developing the variable first signal and from the means for developing the second signal for storing the first signal upon change in mean current pressure of at least a predetermined amount from mean baseline pressure to define a stored first signal representing mean baseline pressure at time of storing, means coupled to said mean for storing the first signal and to the means for developing the second signal and responsive to the stored first signal and to the second signal for charging and enabling discharge of the electrical energy stored by said storage means across said electrode means and into the heart upon change in the mean current pressure of at least predetermined amount from the mean baseline pressure at time of storing the first signal.
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52. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system comprising electrical means for the sensing heart rate and producing a first control signal upon the heart rate exceeding a predetermined rate;
- pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a second pressure-related signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length, means responsive to outputs from the means for developing the first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure and from the means for developing the second pressure-related signal for storing the first pressure-related signal upon change in mean current pressure of at least a predetermined amount from mean baseline pressure to define a stored first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure at time of storing, means coupled to said means for storing the first pressure-related signal and to the means for developing the second pressure-related signal and responsive to outputs therefrom for producing a second control signal indicative of the mean current pressure departing by at least a predetermined amount from the mean baseline pressure at the time of storing the first pressure-related signal;
controllable antitachycardia pacemaking means for supplying pacing signals to the heart;
controllable cardioverting/defibrillating means including storage means for storing electrical energy and electrode means for applying electrical energy from the storage means to the heart to cardiovert or to defibrillate same;
control circuit means responsive to the first control signal and to the second control signal for enabling said antitachycardia pacemaking means in response to presence of the first control signal and contemporaneous absence of the second control signal and for enabling said cardioverting/defibrillating means in response to contemporaneous presence of both the first control signal and the second control signal.
- pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a second pressure-related signal representing mean current pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length, means responsive to outputs from the means for developing the first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure and from the means for developing the second pressure-related signal for storing the first pressure-related signal upon change in mean current pressure of at least a predetermined amount from mean baseline pressure to define a stored first pressure-related signal representing mean baseline pressure at time of storing, means coupled to said means for storing the first pressure-related signal and to the means for developing the second pressure-related signal and responsive to outputs therefrom for producing a second control signal indicative of the mean current pressure departing by at least a predetermined amount from the mean baseline pressure at the time of storing the first pressure-related signal;
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53. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system including means for providing cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy, pressure responsive sensing means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, means responsive to output from said pressure responsve sensing means for developing a variable signal representing pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from said pressure responsive sensing means for developing a further signal representing pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length, means responsive to the variable signal and to the further signal for storing the variable signal upon change in mean current pressure of at least a given magnitude from mean baseline pressure to define a stored signal representing mean baseline pressure at time of storing the variable signal, means coupled to said means for storing the variable signal and to the means for developing the further signal and responsive to the further signal and to the stored signal for delivering the cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy into the heart upon occurrence of departure of the further signal from the stored signal by at least a predetermined magnitude indicative of hemodynamic comprise.
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54. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart, the system comprising electrical means for sensing heart rate and producing a first control signal whenever the rate exceeds a predetermined rate;
- pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system;
means responsive to output from the pressure responsive means for developing a variable signal representing pressure over a period of predetermined length, means responsive to output from the pressure responsive means for developing a further signal representing pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined duration;
means responsive to the variable signal and to the further signal for storing the variable signal upon change in mean current pressure of at least a given magnitude from mean baseline pressure to define a stored signal representing mean baseline pressure at time of storing the variable signal, means coupled to said means for storing the variable signal and to the means for developing the further signal and responsive to the further signal and to the stored signal for developing a second control signal upon departure of the further signal from the stored signal by at least a predetermined magnitude;
controllable antitachycardia pacemaking means for supplying pacing signals to the heart;
means for producing controllable cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy;
control circuit means responsive to the first control signal and to the second control signal for enabling said antitachycardia pacemaking means upon presence of the first control signal and contemporaneous absence of the second control signal and for enabling said means for producing the cardioverting/defibrillating electrical energy upon contemporaneous presence of the first control signal and the second control signal.
- pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system;
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55. In a system for treating a malfunctioning heart of a patient, the system including means for delivering electrical energy to the heart and pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system, an improvement comprising means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing the mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length;
means responsive to the variable first signal and to the second signal for storing the first signal upon the second signal exceeding the variable first signal by at least a predetermined amount to define a stored signal representing mean pressure over a period of the predetermined length immediately preceding instant of storing;
means responsive to the stored signal and to the second signal for producing a control signal upon the second signal departing from the stored signal by at least a given magnitude; and
means responsive to the control signal for enabling the means for delivering electrical energy to the heart.
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing the mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of predetermined length;
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56. A system for treating a malfunctioning heart of a patient, the system comprising pressure responsive means for sensing pressure at a site in a circulatory system;
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a second signal representing mean pressure over a period of given length of lesser duration than the period of substantially predetermined length;
means responsive to the variable first signal and to the second signal for storing the first signal upon the second signal exceeding the variable first signal by at least a predetermined amount to define a stored signal representing mean pressure over a period of the predetermined length immediately preceding instant of storing;
means responsive to the stored signal and to the second signal for producing a first control signal upon occurence of the second signal departing from the stored signal by at least a given magnitude;
means responsive to heart rate for producing a second control signal; and
means responsive to the first control signal and to the second control signal for delivering electrical energy to the heart.
- means coupled to said pressure responsive means and responsive to output therefrom for producing a variable first signal representing mean pressure over a period of predetermined length;
Specification