Multi-focal leadless apical cardiac pacemaker
First Claim
1. A heart pacemaker, comprising a base member mounting a plurality of base electrodes, the base member having a concave surface which is shaped so as to confirm to an apical area of a heart such that the pacing electrodes are positioned about the apical area of the heart and constitute means for providing stimulation to the apical area of the heart so as to mirror the excitation pattern of the heart, and pulse generator means for causing the electrodes to provide cardiac stimulating pulses to the apical area to pace the heart.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heart pacemaker which is arranged to stimulate the apical area of the heart. Stimulation of this area provides synchronous mechanical contraction of the left and right ventricles and overcomes the problem of pacemaker induced left bundle branch block type conduction disturbance. The pacemaker has a base surface which conforms to the apical area of the heart and mounts a plurality of epicardial stimulating electrodes. Selection of electrodes can be made to provide the most clinically appropriate stimulation. An opposite side of the pacemaker is arranged to contact the diaphragm and is provided with sensing electrodes to sense activity of the diaphragm and adjust pacing of the heart in accordance with changes in physical activity of the patient. The electrodes used are preferably of capacitive construction, having first and second capacitive plates either side of a dielectric formed by the body of the pacemaker.
-
Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A heart pacemaker, comprising a base member mounting a plurality of base electrodes, the base member having a concave surface which is shaped so as to confirm to an apical area of a heart such that the pacing electrodes are positioned about the apical area of the heart and constitute means for providing stimulation to the apical area of the heart so as to mirror the excitation pattern of the heart, and pulse generator means for causing the electrodes to provide cardiac stimulating pulses to the apical area to pace the heart.
- 6. A heart pacemaker comprising a base member mounting a plurality of base electrodes, the base member being adapted to fit to an apex of a heart, in an apical area of the heart, such that the pacing electrodes are positioned about the apical area of the heart and able to provide stimulation to the apical area of the heart, and pulse generator means for causing the electrodes to provide cardiac stimulating pulses to the epical area to pace the heart, wherein the base member mounts three or more said pacing electrodes arranged to be positioned about the apex of the heart, the pacemaker further comprising selection means for selecting which pacing electrodes are to be used provide cardiac stimulating pulses, whereby one, some or all of the pacing electrodes may be used to provide cardiac stimulation as clinically appropriate.
- 14. A heart pacemaker, comprising a base member mounting a plurality of base electrodes, the base member being adapted to fit to an apex of a heart, in an apical area of the heart, such that the pacing electrodes are positioned about the apical area of the heart and able to provide stimulation to the apical area of the heart, and pulse generator means for causing the electrodes to provide cardiac stimulating pulses to the apical area to pace the heart, the pacemaker further comprising means for sensing the degree of physical activity of the patient and means for adjusting pacing in response to variations in the physical activity of the heart, wherein the sensing means senses activity of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm.
Specification