Cardiac harness for treating congestive heart failure and for defibrillating and/or pacing/sensing

• US 7,225,036 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paracor Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Mar, Craig, Fishler, Matthew G., Lau, Lilip
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes; Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALTER, ALYSSA MARGO
• Application Number:
  US10/777,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 607/129, 607/9, 600/37, 600/16
• US Class Current: 607/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2484 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0563 specially adapted for defibrillation or cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

A system for treating the heart includes a cardiac harness associated with a cardiac rhythm management devise which includes at least electrodes and a power source. The cardiac harness applies a compressive force on the heart during diastole and systole. The electrodes will deliver an electrical shock to the heart for defibrillation and/or can be used for pacing/sensing. The cardiac harness and electrodes are delivered and implanted on the heart by minimally invasive access.

Claims

1. A system for treating the heart, comprising:

a cardiac harness configured to conform generally to at least a portion of a human heart;

the cardiac harness formed of undulating strands of hinge elements;

a first set of said undulating strands forming an electrode and a second set of undulating strands having a dielectric coating and being electrically insulated from the first set of undulating strands; and

a power source for providing electrical energy to the electrode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of undulating strands forming the electrode are formed from a metallic alloy.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the metallic alloy is coated with a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of platinum, platinum-iridium or iridium oxide.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set and the second set of undulating strands are compressible for minimally invasive delivery of the cardiac harness.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coating is taken from the group of insulating materials consisting of silicone rubber, parylene, polyurethanes, PTFE, TFE, and ePTFE.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to provide an electrical shock to the heart for defibrillation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing therapy.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing and sensing therapy.

9. A system for treating the heart, comprising:

a cardiac harness formed of rows of hinge elements, the said rows configured to cover at least a portion of the heart;

at least one row forming an electrode row;

a plurality of rows having a coating of a dielectric material and being electrically insulated from the said electrode row; and

a power source for providing electrical energy to the said electrode row.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one row forming the electrode is formed from a metallic alloy.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the metallic alloy is coated with a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of platinum, platinum-iridium or iridium oxide.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the rows are compressible for minimally invasive delivery of the cardiac harness.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the dielectric material is taken from the group of insulating materials consisting of silicone rubber, parylene, polyurethanes, PTFE, TEE, and ePTEE.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrode is configured to provide an electrical shock to the heart for defibrillation.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing therapy.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing and sensing therapy.

17. A system for treating the heart, comprising:

a cardiac harness formed of rows of hinge elements configured to conform generally to at least a portion of a human heart;

the cardiac harness having a conducting portion and a non-conducting portion wherein the non-conducting portion is coated with a dielectric material and is electrically insulated from the conducting portion; and

a power source for providing electrical energy to the conducting portion.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the conducting portion comprises an electrode.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrode is formed from a metallic alloy.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the metallic alloy is coated with a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of platinum, platinum-iridium or iridium oxide.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrode is configured to provide an electrical shock to the heart for defibrillation.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing therapy.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing and sensing therapy.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the conducting portion and the non-conducting portion are compressible for minimally invasive delivery of the cardiac harness.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the electrical insulation is taken from the group of insulating materials consisting of silicone rubber, parylene, polyurethanes, PTFE, TFE, and ePTFE.

26. A system for treating the heart, comprising:

a cardiac harness configured to conform generally to at least a portion of a human heart;

the cardiac harness formed of rows of first hinge elements and second hinge elements;

the said first hinge elements forming an electrode and the said second hinge elements being coated with a dielectric material and being electrically insulated from the said first hinge elements; and

a power source for providing electrical energy to the electrode.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first hinge elements forming the electrode are formed from a metallic alloy.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the metallic alloy is coated with a layer of material taken from the group of materials consisting of platinum, platinum-iridium or iridium oxide.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first and second hinge elements are compressible for minimally invasive delivery of the cardiac harness.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the dielectric material is taken from the group of insulating materials consisting of silicone rubber, parylene, polyurethanes, PTFE, TFE, and ePTFE.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the electrode is configured to provide an electrical shock to the heart for defibrillation.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing therapy.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the electrode is configured to provide pacing and sensing therapy.

34. A system for treating the heart, comprising:

a cardiac harness configured to conform generally to at least a portion of a human heart;

the cardiac harness formed of at least one first strand of non-overlapping undulating hinge elements and a plurality of second strands of non-overlapping undulating hinge elements;

the at least one first strand of undulating hinge elements forming an electrode;

the at least one first strand of undulating hinge elements and the plurality of second strands of undulating hinge elements having high fatigue resistance and the same compliance; and

a power source for providing electrical energy to the electrode.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of second strands of undulating hinge elements being coated with a dielectric material and being electrically insulated from the electrode.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one first strand of undulating hinge elements and the plurality of second strands of undulating hinge elements are formed from a metal alloy taken from the group of metal alloys consisting of nickel-titanium (NiTi), nickel-titanium-vanadium (NiTiVa), superelastic alloys and shape memory alloys.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the electrode is connected to an adjacent second strand of undulating hinge elements by an electrically non-conductive dielectric material.