System and method of mechanical treatment of cardiac fibrillation
First Claim
1. An implantable system for defibrillation of a heart of a patient, comprising:
- implantable means for sensing fibrillation in an atrial chamber of the heart; and
implantable mechanical means, operably connected to said sensing means, for generating and delivering at least one mechanical shock to said atrial chamber of the heart in response to sensed fibrillation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an implanted system and method for delivering subsonic mechanical waves to one or more selected patient areas, the areas including the patient'"'"'s heart and/or lungs. The mechanical waves are delivered for the purpose of treating fibrillation or like arrhythmias, for enhancing lung gas exchange, enhancing cardiac muscle fiber relaxation, and enhancing coronary perfusion. Mechanical waves are generated in a frequency range of about 1-100,000 Hz, and preferably 1-50,000 Hz. The waves may be delivered continuously for short or long time periods, or may be controlled in timing either with respect to detected portions of a patient'"'"'s heartbeat signal or in response to a detected event such as fibrillation. In one preferred embodiment, the implantable system includes a defibrillation shock generator and control for responding to a defibrillation event by first delivering a sequence of mechanical waves and then delivering an electrical defibrillation shock. In another embodiment, the system and method treat incipient fibrillation or arrhythmia by delivering mechanical waves of predetermined timing to the patient'"'"'s heart and/or lungs. In a specific embodiment, mechanical waves are delivered through an array of transducers to the patient'"'"'s atrial wall, to treat atrial fibrillation.
161 Citations
3 Claims
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1. An implantable system for defibrillation of a heart of a patient, comprising:
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implantable means for sensing fibrillation in an atrial chamber of the heart; and implantable mechanical means, operably connected to said sensing means, for generating and delivering at least one mechanical shock to said atrial chamber of the heart in response to sensed fibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification