Methods and systems for heart failure prevention and treatments using ultrasound and leadless implantable devices

• US 7,765,001 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Riley, Richard E., Cowan, Mark W., Brisken, Axel F., Echt, Debra S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza; Frances P
• Application Number:
  US11/468,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 600/373, 600/374, 600/437, 600/439, 600/459, 600/509, 600/513, 607/2, 607/4, 607/5, 607/7, 607/9, 607/10, 607/11, 607/30, 607/31, 607/32, 607/33, 607 59- 62, 607/116, 607/119, 607/123
• US Class Current: 607/9
• 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 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0004 Applications of ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.

Claims

1. A system for the delivery of electrical current to a patient'"'"'s heart to improve and/or prevent deterioration of heart function, comprising:

one or more acoustic receiver-stimulators having an electrode assembly wherein at least one of the electrodes is adapted to be implanted in direct contact with cardiac tissue; and

an acoustic controller-transmitter, wherein the acoustic controller-transmitter is adapted to transmit acoustic energy into a patient'"'"'s body and which provides both energy and signal information to the receiver-stimulator and the receiver-stimulator further comprises an acoustic receiver which receives the acoustic energy and generates alternating current, means for converting the alternating current to a direct current or waveform to provide a non-excitatory electrical current to the electrodes adapted to deliver the direct current or waveform to the cardiac tissue,

wherein the implantable receiver-stimulator is adapted to be placed and secured at a location in the heart sufficient to deliver electrical energy to the cardiac tissue and wherein the controller-transmitter is adapted to transmit acoustic energy such that the receiver-stimulator delivers non-excitatory electrical current which prolongs action potential duration.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory electrical current further improves tissue contractility.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the one or more implantable receiver-stimulators are adapted to be placed and secured at one or more ventricular locations.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the one or more implantable receiver-stimulators are adapted to be placed and secured in the right ventricle.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein the one or more implantable receiver-stimulators are adapted to be placed and secured in the left ventricle.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic energy is transmitted during an absolute refractory period.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic energy is transmitted at the time of or delayed from a detected physiologic event.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the acoustic energy is transmitted on command from an external communication source.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the controller-transmitter is applied externally on the patient'"'"'s body.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the controller-transmitter is implantable in the patient'"'"'s body in a subcutaneous region and directs acoustic energy to the receiver-stimulator.

11. A method for treating a patient suffering from heart failure (HF) by prolonging action potential duration in cardiac tissue, said method comprising:

transmitting from a controller-transmitter an acoustic signal in a patient'"'"'s body to a receiver-stimulator implanted in a patient'"'"'s heart,

receiving the acoustic signal using the implantable receiver stimulator, wherein the receiver-stimulator generates an alternating current in response to the acoustic signal and converts the alternating current to a direct current and/or waveform to stimulate cardiac tissue,

delivering the direct current to cardiac tissue, wherein the acoustic signal provides both energy and signal information to deliver non-excitatory electrical current to cardiac tissue.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the direct current is delivered to the cardiac tissue by electrodes disposed on the receiver-stimulator.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the receiver stimulators are implanted in the left and/or right ventricles.

14. A method as in any one of claims 11, 12 and 13, wherein the direct current is converted to non-excitatory current which improves tissue contractility.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the non-excitatory current is delivered during an absolute refractory period.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein the non-excitatory current is delivered at a time of or delayed from a detected physiologic event.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein the non-excitatory current is delivered on command from an external communication source.

18. A method as in claim 11, wherein the controller-transmitter is applied externally on the patient'"'"'s body.

19. A method as in claim 11, wherein the controller-transmitter is implantable in the patient'"'"'s body in a subcutaneous region that directs acoustic energy to the heart.

20. A method as in claim 11, wherein the patient has been diagnosed as suffering from heart failure (HF).