Electrical muscle controller

• US 7,062,318 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Original Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Darvish, Nissim, Fenster, Maier, Yuval, Mika
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US10/001,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/3, 128/898, 128/899
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/029 Measuring or recording blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume A61B8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0166 : Sensors, electrodes or the like for guiding the catheter to a target zone, e.g. image guided or magnetically guided
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 : for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3628 : using sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals
• 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 1/36557 : controlled by chemical substances in blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 : controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36578 : controlled by mechanical motion of the heart wall, e.g. measured by an accelerometer or microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/368 : comprising more than one electrode co-operating with different heart regions A61N1/3622, A61N1/3627 take precedence

Abstract

A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by at least 5%.

Claims

1. A method of performing cardiac surgery comprising applying to the heart, or to a portion thereof a non-excitatory stimulus of properties suitable to control the electro-mechanical activity of the tissue in the area on which surgery is to be performed, wherein said stimulus is inhibitory of a propagating action potential, and thereafter performing the required surgical procedure on said area.

2. A method of performing cardiovascular surgery comprising applying to the heart chamber or to a portion thereof a non-excitatory stimulus suitable to reduce the output flow, contractility, or pressure thereof, when surgery is performed on tissue perfused by the flow of said chamber, wherein said stimulus is unable to generate a propagating action potential, and thereafter performing the required surgical procedure on said area.

3. A method of reducing an output of a chamber of a heart, comprising applying to a portion of said heart chamber a non-excitatory stimulus suitable to obtain a desired change, wherein said stimulus is applied at a time at which it is unable to generate a propagating action potential, and wherein reducing the output of the chamber is obtained by reducing the reactivity of said portion, or its sensitivity, to an activation signal, or by reversibly blocking its conduction pathway.

4. A method of treating an abnormal activation of the heart, comprising applying to said heart or to a portion thereof a non-excitatory stimulus suitable to treat the abnormal activation condition, wherein said non-excitatory stimulus controls the electro-mechanical activity of the tissue in the area to which said stimulus is applied and is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the abnormal activation treated is fibrillation.

6. Heart control apparatus, comprising circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus, and stimulus application devices for applying to a heart or to a portion thereof said non-excitatory stimulus, wherein said circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus generates a non-excitatory stimulus which controls the electro-mechanical activity of the tissue in the area to which said stimulus is applied and is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus comprises circuitry for generating an electric field.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the stimulus application device comprises one or more electrodes.

9. Cardiac surgery aiding apparatus, comprising circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus, and stimulus application apparatus for applying to a heart or to a portion thereof said non-excitatory stimulus, wherein said circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus generates a stimulus suitable to control the electro-mechanical activity of the tissue in the area on which surgery is to be performed, and wherein said stimulus is unable to generate a propagating action potential.

10. Cardiovascular surgery aiding apparatus, comprising circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus, and stimulus application apparatus for applying to a heart chamber or to a portion thereof said non-excitatory stimulus, wherein said circuitry for generating a non-excitatory stimulus generates a stimulus suitable to reduce the output flow, contractility, or pressure of said chamber, when surgery is performed on tissue perfused by the flow of said chamber, and wherein said stimulus is unable to generate a propagating action potential, and thereafter performing the required surgical procedure on said area.