Method and system for treatment of tachycardia and fibrillation
First Claim
1. A method for regulating the heart rate of a patient comprising:
- inserting into a blood vessel of the patient a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end, the electrode assembly having a continuous generally circular main region comprising a generally circular non-conductive covering that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode;
directing the catheter to an intravascular location wherein the at least one electrode on the electrode assembly is adjacent to a selected cardiac sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve;
stabilizing the at least one electrode at the intravascular location; and
delivering a stimulus through the at least one electrode, the stimulus being selected to stimulate the adjacent sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve to thereby cause a regulation of the patient'"'"'s heart rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for regulating the heart rate of a patient comprises inserting into a blood vessel of the patient a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end. The electrode assembly comprises a generally circular main region that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode. The catheter is directed to an intravascular location wherein the at least one electrode on the electrode assembly is adjacent a selected cardiac sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve. The at least one electrode is stabilized at the intravascular location. A stimulus is delivered through the at least one electrode, the stimulus being selected to stimulate the adjacent sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve to thereby cause a regulation of the patient'"'"'s heart rate.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for regulating the heart rate of a patient comprising:
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inserting into a blood vessel of the patient a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end, the electrode assembly having a continuous generally circular main region comprising a generally circular non-conductive covering that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode;
directing the catheter to an intravascular location wherein the at least one electrode on the electrode assembly is adjacent to a selected cardiac sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve;
stabilizing the at least one electrode at the intravascular location; and
delivering a stimulus through the at least one electrode, the stimulus being selected to stimulate the adjacent sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve to thereby cause a regulation of the patient'"'"'s heart rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of selectively ablating a sympathetic or parasympathetic innervation of at least one portion of the heart of a patient comprising:
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inserting into a blood vessel of the patient a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end, the electrode assembly having a continuous generally circular main region comprising a generally circular non-conductive covering that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode;
directing the catheter to an intravascular location wherein the at least one electrode on the electrode assembly is adjacent to a selected cardiac sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve;
stabilizing the electrode at the intravascular location; and
delivering an ablation stimulus through the electrode, the ablating stimulus being sufficient to damage the nerve so that it no longer conducts impulses to the heart. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system to regulate the heart rate of a patient comprising:
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a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end, the electrode assembly having a generally circular main region comprising a continuous generally circular non-conductive covering that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode; and
a signal generator electrically connected to the at least one electrode on the generally circular main region, the signal generator being capable of generating stimulating pulses having a frequency of from about 1 Hz to about 200 Hz, an intensity of from about 1V to about 200 V and a duration of from about 0.01 msec to about 10 msec. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification